Coulthart Calls For MP4-18 Debut

It seems like the Ferrari 2003-GA and the past two victorys seem to have put a little scare into David ;). Ferrari's debut of the F2003-GA prompted Coulthart to call for the new chassis sooner then later.

"We have to have the new car out as soon as possible. That's the only way I believe we can continue to challenge for the championship," said Coulthard. From TSN.ca

Ron Dennis said the earliest we could see the MP4-18 is in the Canadian GP in June.

Do you think since Ferrari debut there new car in Spain and have won the last two races McLaren should rush the development on the MP4-18 and risk reliability? Or should they stick it out for the next 2 GP's and see if it can still keep up with the new Ferrari?

DC's view should change after seeing the 2003 GA isn't all that scary. If I were McLaren I wouldn't rush it, although I'm curious that with Ferrari and McLaren's resources, why the new cars are so late anyway unless many unexpected problems arose. :)

I think the teams have learnt it will cost them more in terms of the championship to rush a new car to the track when they can at least have a reliable car albeit a year older.
I hope Mclaren won't rush the new car to the track just because Coulthard is crying about it, after all, it's not like Kimi is crying.
At the end of the day, it is the driver that gets the car to the finish anyways, maybe Kimi is making David feel a little slow:rolleyes:

i heard the New Ferrari has tyre wear problems :o

Originally posted by NSX-R-SSJ20K
i heard the New Ferrari has tyre wear problems :o

If you mean on yesterday's race, then everyone did, if you mean in general, I have never heard that, do you have any more info on that?

Originally posted by Veyron
... why the new cars are so late anyway unless many unexpected problems arose. :)

In case of McLaren I know that the new car was designed to run without traction-control. In the suspention area that is an important thing. However, now that the ban on TC has been lifted, it meant that they had to redesign those areas. Knowing the working style of Adrian Newey, he's not going to run over one night ice. And I bet he's working on a chassis that they can develop this year in a 2004 Ferrari beater. It was the initial plan afterall and I'm sure they'll stick to that plan, whatever DC says about it. Kimi being on top of the standings has nothing to do with the car becoming all of a sudden so quick, rather then circumstances which played in McLarens favour.

In the case of Ferrari, they're not bringing the car out until it's bullet proof. A strategy they choose last year and it paid devidents, so they did the same thing this year. It was even delayed after the crashes of Badoer until they pinpointed that problem and rectified it. The advantage of huge budgets and being World Champions I guess.

I read in Allianz F1 that Traction Control will be forbidden in 2003 around July. Has the ban been lifted totally or will TC banning take effect soon?

Its been lifted.

Originally posted by Michael Schumacher
Its been lifted.

Yep, because the FIA couldn't get themselves sorted out with the monitoring systems....

but launch control and automatic gearboxes will be forbidden from 2004 onwards. So we get to see regular starts again and gearbox paddles to command semi-auto boxes.

Originally posted by huudo
but launch control and automatic gearboxes will be forbidden from 2004 onwards. So we get to see regular starts again and gearbox paddles to command semi-auto boxes.

I am sure Ferrari are already working on a way around this.....a-la-1992 style.....

Originally posted by freakray


If you mean on yesterday's race, then everyone did, if you mean in general, I have never heard that, do you have any more info on that?

No idea.
The commentators said it at the GP before last.