Positive Signs From the 18

F1 testing, Barcelona day 4 update: Wurz goes fastest in new McLaren!

Full story: http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=23784&s=5

As long as it has passed all the safety tests....going fast is fine, going fast as well as being safe is what is important I think.

Now Mr. Dennis, when can we have the new car on the track racing?

Haug reported July 11 that the 18 will be delayed three more races, must be one hell of a complex car.

Originally posted by Veyron
Haug reported July 11 that the 18 will be delayed three more races, must be one hell of a complex car.

no, remember what I said about it. They'll only race it the last 4 races and go into the 2004 campaign with a new car with already 4 races under it's belt. 2004 is McLaren's. Not 2003.

At the end of next year, I'll search up these old threats and say: I told you so :wink:

So the MP4/18 is delayed again. Does this make it a failed car? Is this car worse than the MP4/17?
in another three races the season will be almost all but over what a waste of money.

Originally posted by cruisey
So the MP4/18 is delayed again. Does this make it a failed car? Is this car worse than the MP4/17?
in another three races the season will be almost all but over what a waste of money.

Haven't you been paying attention?

Did anyone say the MP4/18 is a failed design?
Mclaren obviously don't think it is worse than the MP4/17D, they are just making sure they are 100% ready and reliable before racing it.

Considering Mclaren's plan to use it for the 2004 season, I hardly see it as failed, more like good planning.

If you want to see a waste of money, look to the Ferrari F2002/F2003 debacle, they introduce one car during one season, and then early the following season another new car? That is far less cost effective than race testing your new design over the last 4 races of one season in preparation for the following season, not so?

McLaren are going to use yet another car next season. Lat I heard, they promised to run it on track before the end of this season. Although just how it will be different from 18A and 18X I don't know.

I read in an interview with Newey once that he and Ron has generally disagreed on the procedure for developing their car. Newey believes you basically have to write off a whole season by using the old car, instead of putting the new on track and developing it there. I appears Ron has listened to Newey this time, it looks as if Newey is getting his way. :smile:

Originally posted by huudo


no, remember what I said about it. They'll only race it the last 4 races and go into the 2004 campaign with a new car with already 4 races under it's belt. 2004 is McLaren's. Not 2003.

At the end of next year, I'll search up these old threats and say: I told you so :wink:

It might be used at the Italian GP, if not maybe U.S. and Japan, that is three races at most, but more than likely just two. :smile:

Well i dont see that Ferraris cars are a waste of money, they have both won races, one has even won a world championship.
But the Mp4/18 seems to be a waste of time as they are planning on builing a new car for next year.
I think that the 18 was a flawed design thats why its still in the development stage, thats why it still hasnt passed the FIA's side impact tests. Now to me That is a waste of time and money.
Plus it looks ugly so of course its not going to win. start again Mclaren.

Originally posted by cruisey
Well i dont see that Ferraris cars are a waste of money, they have both won races, one has even won a world championship.
But the Mp4/18 seems to be a waste of time as they are planning on builing a new car for next year.
I think that the 18 was a flawed design thats why its still in the development stage, thats why it still hasnt passed the FIA's side impact tests. Now to me That is a waste of time and money.
Plus it looks ugly so of course its not going to win. start again Mclaren.

It's ugly so it's not going to win? What kind of opinion is that?

I don't expect a Ferrari fan would see the short timespan between the release of the 2002 and 2003 as a waste of money, but I was citing it as an example.
If the 18 comes onto the track, wins 50% of the races it's run in and then they bring out the 19 and win even more races, is the 18 still a waste of money?
From an engineering standpoint, developing and perfecting a product before it has to utilised on the market(in this case the race track) is far more justifiabe than rushing a design and hoping it will work.

What you think doesn't really matter, what Mclaren thinks does, if they are learning a lot from developing the 18 that can be utilised in the 19, then it is not a failure, it is a step in development.

Must admit that even as a McLaren fan the constant delays are becoming a bit of a farce. Not to mention the strain on resources developing three cars at once - the '17 at the races, '18 on test tracks and '19 on the drawing board.

I guess it shows McLaren are taking a long term aproach, they couldn't have expected to win championships this year, the early season form only served to flatter. So lets have the MP4/18 at the race track, I don't see that McLaren have much to lose if it proves to be fragile. Seems they are not going to win with the current car in speed or reliability. The MP4/17D is likely to be outclassed by the Williams when Michelin get things right and Ferrari when Bridgestone do. The one race where the '17 had the speed (Nurburgring) Kimi blew up :frown:

We're all focusing on Mclaren, Williams and Ferrari when Renault could well be the one to watch next year. I think they are on the brink of a major leap in performance. :smile:

I agree with Phil, beef the damn monocoque up to pass crash test and put it on the track, chances are McLaren aren't going to win the c'ship this year so take the gamble.

Yeah failing the crash test is no big deal, Kimi and Wurz have been doing plenty of on track crash testing anyway! A lot of cars fail the first time, makes sense, no point in overengineering the monocoque and saddling the car with extra weight.

Originally posted by RallyRaider
Yeah failing the crash test is no big deal, Kimi and Wurz have been doing plenty of on track crash testing anyway! A lot of cars fail the first time, makes sense, no point in overengineering the monocoque and saddling the car with extra weight.

Add an airbag system for next year? :lol:

I will have to e-mail that idea to Stoddy:icon16:

Originally posted by freakray


Add an airbag system for next year? :lol:

I will have to e-mail that idea to Stoddy:icon16:

Stoddy? Yeah, he does appear to be setting the agenda these days doesn't he? :bloated:

Before Stoddy too over :tongue: the FIA looked into airbags for F1, after Mika's big accident in Adelaide '95. IIRC the conclusion was they couldn't be made to work fast enough to be of benefit in F1 crashes

Originally posted by RallyRaider

the FIA looked into airbags for F1, after Mika's big accident in Adelaide '95. IIRC the conclusion was they couldn't be made to work fast enough to be of benefit in F1 crashes

Just have to slow the cars down.....to about a Minardi speed

Well if you think Mclaren arnt going to win races this year, then hey why the hell not develope it on TRACK. would make alot more sence. I know they failed the impact tests. but unless they failed by a fair margin then cant it be fix quick. didnt Jag fail last year but they seemed to fix it with in a week.

Anyway I like the airbag idea, but i would prefer to see cars with airbag suspension. then they can raise or dump the cars just like the mini trucks of america. and then stick big subbys in the back somewhere!! so the cars can go Doof Doof!! now thats some development.

Im glad im no fan of Mclaren, cause i wouldnt like to be one of there fans at the moment.

Originally posted by cruisey

Im glad im no fan of Mclaren, cause i wouldnt like to be one of there fans at the moment.

it's tough indeed, to read all the crap and non-crap stuff about McLaren right now. But hey, not as bad as having to wait 20 years before the next title came about. :icon16: