Is McLaren Facing Up To Reality?

[Maxmil]

Two articles out today on F1 On Net suggest they just may be. Mika has admitted - what everyone knew - that his third championship is down the tubes for this season. Ron Dennis has admitted - what everyone knew - that they have royally screwed up their launch control system.

This burst of mea culpa may bode well for David Coulthard who still has a realistic chance of overhauling TGF. I find it very refreshing and encouraging that the team, albeit belatedly, seems to be coming together and examining their problems in this way.

[Liz]

Meanwhile apparently Uncle Ron has filed a protest of some sort over Ferrari's tires.

Some things don't change.

[RussianFriend]

Pay more attention to other teams business than to one's own is the best way to loose the championship, Ron!!!

Less attack foreigner driver's and raise protest, and maybe you still have a chance.

[Ed G]

Originally posted by Liz
Meanwhile apparently Uncle Ron has filed a protest of some sort over Ferrari's tires.

Some things don't change.

Huh? what? where? when?

Must have missed that headline. Got a link or at least details?

[Liz]

This is courtesy of British Racing Green: [Sorry it wasn't Ferrari, but Williams - got that part wrong. ]

FIA ruling into tyre investigation

It was reported on Sunday that both tyre suppliers have asked for an investigation into the other supplier's tyres.

According to reports in The Sunday Times this followed Bridgestone's insistence that they had photographic proof of Michelin shaving a set of Williams tyres in Austria, with Bridgestone in turn stating that they saw Michelin do the same to a set of McLaren tyres.

The Sunday Times further reported that McLaren boss Ron Dennis wrote a letter to the FIA, asking for clarification. It quoted Michelin's Pierre Dupasquier saying: "I think that Ron was worried about Bridgestone shaving Ferrari's tyres. As for us, we have only been doing what Bridgestone have been doing. The regulations say that you can clean up the tyres by hand. You can interpret that in a number of ways. You could be holding some sort of implement in your hand, for example."

The FIA made their ruling and stated that only a hand may be used to clean tyre tread, although they allowed the hand to be gloved.

[Maximum F1]

Consider this....both Ferrari and McLaren were on the same tyre's in Monaco...apart from the Fact the Ferrari's were starting with a scrubbed set of fronts which probably only had done a lap or two. Now the McLaren stayed out for about 10 laps more than Ferrari so how could Ferrari's tyre's possibly be more worn than McLaren's (assuming it's tread ware that this is about).

[Ed G]

Originally posted by Maximum F1
Now the McLaren stayed out for about 10 laps more than Ferrari so how could Ferrari's tyre's possibly be more worn than McLaren's (assuming it's tread ware that this is about).

Keep in mind that David was following EB off the pace for the first 35 laps. Depending on how he was driving it is likely that he was able to save the tires once he decided that he wasn't going to get by but wait for the pit stops.

[KC]

As far as team orders go, I have no problem if McLaren do not issue orders for MH to support DC. I think it shows a real lack on MH's part if he does not accept the role of support driver in helping DC reach the WDC and McLaren reach the Constructor's title. DC has supported MH when he was needed and out of the running.

I think it should come down to the two drivers and both being stand up teammates. There is no shame in it.