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[racechick]

In 2012 the car was designed to suit Button,I saw an article about it just after the launch of the MP4-27

If that's true it's madness. They reap what they sow. But I think they rectified it and designed 2013 round Hamilton(if what I read is correct). Oops!

[Nin-Chin]

Then after Abu Dhabi he says it's the worst McLaren he has driven at McLaren,seems to have issues with his cars,or it him?

[CookinFlat6]

I wondered why Mclaren did not move for Allinson of Renault as the next ranked TD after Newey and Lowe.

Sounds like they just can not afford the wages and incentives required to compete with RBR, Merc and Ferrari for top staff. Interesting alternative approach they have though, to promote from withing and give lesser lights a chance.

Its exactly what Williams did

McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale told reporters that he and the team would miss Lowe, who has been at Woking for 19 years, but the team were resilient and structured enough to cope.

"I'm confident we're strong for the season, and strong for the future," he said.

Mercedes have made no comment on Lowe's likely arrival for 2014 but Neale left no doubt that he had been lured away by some hefty incentives and rejected any suggestion that McLaren had slipped up.

"People are prepared to pay exotic salaries and wait 12 or 18 months, or longer in some cases. That's the state of the market," he said.

"It would be disappointing if we weren't regarded as a place to hire good people because then I wouldn't be doing my job. The real test is whether we have got a system in place to pick up people from underneath, and I believe we have," he added.

"In the market place at the moment, if you've a team and you want to go out and buy some short-term know-how then you can pay telephone number salaries. If that's what your business model is. From time to time we have all done it."

[bud]

Hang on wasn't Lowe recruited from within? No different! Just your blatant distaste for the team showing through once again, McLaren is in no way in a similar position to Williams like you love to go on about!

But hey at least teams like Williams, Ferrari and McLaren can always be counted on to be in F1, same cannot be said for Merc or Redbull, F1 is just a marketing tool for them!

[LewEngBridewell]

Hang on wasn't Lowe recruited from within? No different! Just your blatant distaste for the team showing through once again, McLaren is in no way in a similar position to Williams like you love to go on about!

But hey at least teams like Williams, Ferrari and McLaren can always be counted on to be in F1, same cannot be said for Merc or Redbull, F1 is just a marketing tool for them!

Williams, Ferrari and McLaren will no doubt be in F1 long after Merc and RBR have pulled the plug.

[scotty]

Anyone who thinks McLaren will suddenly suck cause Lowe left is very, very sadly mistaken i'm afraid. You think Newey solely makes these excellent cars? Nope... he just directs an excellent bunch of engineers in the most appropriate manner, and that's how the results are generated. Team sport and all that. Tim Goss, to put it bluntly, knows his s*** anyway. That said, McLaren will obviously miss Lowe, as any team would with such a hugely talented individual. But to overstate the importance of this change in the grand scheme of things is misguided, to say the least.

[racechick]

Well it is a pretty big thing to lose your technical director weeks from the start of the season.

[What's Burning?]

Well it is a pretty big thing to lose your technical director weeks from the start of the season.

I believe he may have been 'lost' about the same time Hamilton was. Maybe there was an association, maybe not but I doubt that this decision was made by anyone, Mercedes. Paddy, or McLaren at this point.

[racechick]

Well it is a pretty big thing to lose your technical director weeks from the start of the season.

I believe he may have been 'lost' about the same time Hamilton was. Maybe there was an association, maybe not but I doubt that this decision was made by anyone, Mercedes. Paddy, or McLaren at this point.

He must have been thinking about it for some time, maybe Lewis going was the catalyst for action, maybe he then approached Mercedes or vice versa. Can't be good though to not have him there at the start of the season, not good timing for Mclaren.

[What's Burning?]

Well it is a pretty big thing to lose your technical director weeks from the start of the season.

I believe he may have been 'lost' about the same time Hamilton was. Maybe there was an association, maybe not but I doubt that this decision was made by anyone, Mercedes. Paddy, or McLaren at this point.

He must have been thinking about it for some time, maybe Lewis going was the catalyst for action, maybe he then approached Mercedes or vice versa. Can't be good though to not have him there at the start of the season, not good timing for Mclaren.

It's not great for Mercedes this season either if he can't get anything meaningful done this year.

There are obviously things going on under the surface of both teams.

[CookinFlat6]

When any firm loses a top quality head of department and promotes from within, there is always a big risk that it does not work out. Anything can happen, Goss might turn out to be the best ecver, or not.
The reason some firms would hire/poach from a competitor is for the simple reason that the incoming guy is proven, has proven methods and brings a solution.
The new guy normally starts by clearing out his predecessors guys - why?

Because when a top guy (who is smart) goes, along with him goes more than just his personal effects. Most of the time his assistant will want to go with him, and if he doesnt has to step up to the plate and reinvent things

So its a big risk for McLaren, not where you would want to be just before the season starts.
But I suspect they will improve this season and that Button will find that Lowe wasnt as important for success as he told us last year.

Is Goss better than Allison at Renault? Maybe, he will have to be for McLarens sake

[Jabberwocky]

I think this is just the Schumacher effect. Just like his move to Ferrari his disiples rallied to his banner. The same seems to to be happening at Mercedes since Lauda turned up.

[andrew]

Hang on wasn't Lowe recruited from within? No different! Just your blatant distaste for the team showing through once again, McLaren is in no way in a similar position to Williams like you love to go on about!

But hey at least teams like Williams, Ferrari and McLaren can always be counted on to be in F1, same cannot be said for Merc or Redbull, F1 is just a marketing tool for them!

Williams, Ferrari and McLaren will no doubt be in F1 long after Merc and RBR have pulled the plug.

RBR ain't going no where.

[darwin dali]

Hang on wasn't Lowe recruited from within? No different! Just your blatant distaste for the team showing through once again, McLaren is in no way in a similar position to Williams like you love to go on about!

But hey at least teams like Williams, Ferrari and McLaren can always be counted on to be in F1, same cannot be said for Merc or Redbull, F1 is just a marketing tool for them!

Williams, Ferrari and McLaren will no doubt be in F1 long after Merc and RBR have pulled the plug.

RBR ain't going no where.

Au contraire mon cher, they're going places and win this year's championship

[acosmichippo]

I think this is just the Schumacher effect. Just like his move to Ferrari his disiples rallied to his banner. The same seems to to be happening at Mercedes since Lauda turned up.

Phew, I thought you were going to say "Lewis" in that second sentence...