McLaren-Mercedes | MP4-28 | Jenson and 'Checo'

[phil1993]

The thing with McLaren's line up this year is that I don't see a driver who can rag the car to hell in qualifying, something that all of the other top teams have. I think they'll take pole positions, but I'm always going to watch and wonder what Lewis would have done. I mean, Button has weekend when he is on it - Spa for example. But he has too many peaks and troughs. Lewis, in 2012 anyway, was on it for all but one or two races. 7 poles and 4 wins (plus one lost pole and as many as 4 lost wins).

I really want to see Perez doing well, and I hope people give him time as well - not write him off if he has a shocker to begin with, which he might not. Loyalty goes a long way in F1. Circumstances might change, but if he can finish in the top 8 of the championship with at least 50-60% of Button's points, it's a job well done.

[mikhailv]

The thing with McLaren's line up this year is that I don't see a driver who can rag the car to hell in qualifying, something that all of the other top teams have. I think they'll take pole positions, but I'm always going to watch and wonder what Lewis would have done. I mean, Button has weekend when he is on it - Spa for example. But he has too many peaks and troughs. Lewis, in 2012 anyway, was on it for all but one or two races. 7 poles and 4 wins (plus one lost pole and as many as 4 lost wins).

I really want to see Perez doing well, and I hope people give him time as well - not write him off if he has a shocker to begin with, which he might not. Loyalty goes a long way in F1. Circumstances might change, but if he can finish in the top 8 of the championship with at least 50-60% of Button's points, it's a job well done.

I agree. Theyve lost an adaptive driver who can use aggression and anger behind the wheel to push through problems and find single lap pace.

Id give perez half a season really. If he is adaptable; he will beat Button next year, and if Perez does then I think Buttons stock will sink like a lead balloon. its all dependent on Serg. he could be a totally different driver come Australia. I personally dont really see much of what got him to Mclaren over Hulkenberg for example, but he might turn out to be a good risk.

[phil1993]

I'd give him more than that. We need to lay off of some of these young drivers. Remember that Button had a shocker early in his career, but people were loyal to him and he rewarded them. Too frequently in modern F1, drivers are dispensed with before someone can nurture their talent properly.

Experience comes with time. Perez has done 38 races, Button has done 228. There's ten years between them in age and F1 knowledge. If Perez comes in and is comparable to Button, he'll have done a very good job. Not every racing driver is a Vettel or a Hamilton, but that doesn't mean they should be sacked immediately.

[mikhailv]

Oh i wouldnt sack Perez. Im half thinking he's going to blow Button out the water. Since failing the Mclaren fitness test last year it wouldnt surprise me if he's got much fitter, and he has convinced himself that he should cool down and not make the mistakes that was uncharacteristic of him at the end of 2012.

I just dont faith in Button more than anything. I like Button, I really do. Brill bloke, but since I properly watched F1 in 2003 Its like he has a great year, off year, good year, off year, good year, off year. 04 he was superb, 05 I was disapointed, 06 he was great, 07 he was poor, 08 he was poor, 09 was a tale of two halves, 2010 he was alright, 11 he was sublime, 2012 he was rubbish overall.

Going by that logic, 2013 should be a good Button year XD

[phil1993]

Checo looked a lot slimmer in pictures from last week.

[mikhailv]

Checo looked a lot slimmer in pictures from last week.

I noticed that. I think he's really got in shape. If his mindset is the same, might be in for a surprise year

[phil1993]

Paffett wades into the discussion
http://www.f1zone.net/news/paffett-perp ... ove/17355/

[donald29]

This is fun in retrospective. 2007 pre-season ITV documentary, McLaren Chasing the Dream.

[harrisv48]

MP4-27 and MP4-28

[Vlad-SRB]

It seems to me that McLaren is making the most radical changes in recent years. Last year's car was THE fastest car, but not that reliable. I wonder how good will this one do. Front wing seems so much slimmer.

[harrisv48]

Mclaren MP4-28 on run

[Deovann07]

Compare for the mp4-27 the sidepods were revised to improve airflow over the rear of the car.

[phil1993]

Yeah, I don't know what it is with McLaren. They went from Hamilton/Alonso in 2007 to neither of them in 2013. They've not won a WCC since 1998. It's very peculiar. They're consistently near the front - just 2006 without a win - yet they can't finish it off.

[Deovann07]

I think they will work out on that. Now that McLaren has their new technical director.

[phil1993]

New technical director means nothing - Goss worked on the MP4-27 heavily, so it's very little change.

McLaren needs to back a quick Number 1. Reliability cost them in 2003 and 2005. Not backing one of Hamilton/Alonso cost them in 2007. Reliability cost them in 2012 and they never looked like giving 100% behind Lewis.

Two Number 1 drivers in F1 just does not work.