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McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh rules out using last year's car

By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments353

McLaren
McLaren

McLaren have ruled out switching to last year's car as a way out of their uncompetitive start to the season.

McLaren ended last year with the fastest car but their new car proved to be more than two seconds off the pace at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes the new car should be faster.

"All our efforts are currently focused on understanding this year's car, not considering last year's car," he said.

"We believe we can fix those issues."

Jenson Button and Sergio Perez finished Sunday's Australian Grand Prix ninth and 11th after starting 10th and 15th.

Australian GP: Jenson Button dejected after lowly finish

In qualifying, Button made it into the top 10 shoot-out with an impressive fourth-fastest lap in damp conditions.

But in the dry in the final part of qualifying he was 2.95 seconds slower than Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel's pole position time.

Whitmarsh added: "At the moment we have to work hard on this car.

"We know it has got some areas of high potential and we know it has potentially more downforce than last year's car.

"We just need to understand it and make sure [the performance] is accessible.

"We have all had cars in the past that have been difficult to get performance out of, even though some of the [downforce] figures are quite impressive.

"This car seems to be difficult in that regard and we need to work on it, understand it and fix it."

Asked whether the team were confident they knew what the problems were, he said: "I think coming out of a weekend like this and saying the engineers are confident would probably be a bit strong.

"But we believe in what we can do as a team. I am sure we are going to get there.

"It probably won't get there as quickly as I would like it to, but I will be encouraging them to do so."

In theory, it would be relatively easy for McLaren to use last year's car should they want to as there have been relatively few rule changes between last year and this.

The load test on the front wing has been made tougher, to prevent teams from making their wings rotate on their axis for aerodynamic benefit.

McLaren were one of the teams whose wing did this last year, but it would be possible to stop it happening - although it would slow the car down.

There are also tougher mandatory impact tests this year, but it is understood McLaren had already built their 2012 car to the higher crash-test standards required this year.

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353 comments

  • Comment posted by Bear, at 12:59 20 Mar 2013

    McLaren will be fine. All they need to do is look at the thread of comments here and take all of the expert advice forwards. With the amount of knowledge here, they'll walk the championship.

  • Comment posted by chris, at 18:25 20 Mar 2013

    Lewis Hamilton was not mentioned in this article yet I can't believe how many people bring up the old LH vs JB debate. You are getting very very boring.

  • Comment posted by U14677228, at 12:15 20 Mar 2013

    It will be interesting to see where Mclaren are at the end of the season when the teams that have developed last year’s car can’t go any further with development.

  • Comment posted by U13892378, at 18:38 20 Mar 2013

    152rob

    'Why don't the BBC set up a JB V LH only page'

    Because the people posting about it are under the misapprehension that the rest of us give a xxxx what they think :-(

  • Comment posted by malc, at 12:16 20 Mar 2013

    | 2. jarvish
    |
    | I'm first (where McLaren will never be this season).......

    You over-estimate yourself and under-estimate McLaren... :)

  • Comment posted by Mervyn, at 14:56 21 Mar 2013

    this is wat Hamilton probably anticipated with McLaren. they always have a fastest car at the end of seasons. but whats the point? u need to be competitive from the beginning, no point having a fastest car at the last race unless u carry on the evolution process rather scrapping and making a new car which is what McLaren is being doing every year and end up having a car that is 2secs off the pace.

  • Comment posted by U12221345, at 09:51 21 Mar 2013

    The problem is not with the drivers, as I think both button and Perez can mix it with the best of them. The problem seems to be the management, designers and strategists. It's these individuals who cost both LH and JB points last season, who have produced a car that is nearly 3 seconds off the pace. Lets all reconvene in 4 races time and then and only then can we have a reasoned debate.

  • Comment posted by U14510149, at 09:37 21 Mar 2013

    In Gary Andersons pre season review of the cars he said that the McLaren looked aerodynamically good,etc and the Mercedes was effectively a dog. Post race its all change...

  • Comment posted by CoolKev, at 08:46 21 Mar 2013

    @261 "it was paddy lowe who was the main force behing the design of the current mclaren"

    Maybe Paddy's warped idea of a "farewell kiss" to Mclaren. LOL!!!

  • Comment posted by iDominic, at 00:22 21 Mar 2013

    Interesting that in 2012, Ferrari switched to pullrod suspension, and had a slow "dog" of a car at the start of the season, and this year McLaren have switched to pullrod suspension, and at this point of the season have a slow "dog" of a car...

    Could be just co-incidence, of course...

  • Comment posted by Tanglewood, at 22:57 20 Mar 2013

    #167: "If McLaren had come up with a competitive car this year, Button would be the favourite for the title."

    Only if your definition of "competitive" is that the McLaren is significantly faster than the rest of the field over the whole season. I don't see any other scenario in which JB would be a contender (unfortunately). Right now it looks like Alonso vs Vettel for WDC again.

  • Comment posted by Blades of Steel, at 22:29 20 Mar 2013

    Someone dis-liked my Newey comments I thought they were particularly enlightening, it seems I got something wrong my largest PR disaster to date.

  • Comment posted by U13909229, at 21:22 20 Mar 2013

    Jeez, every time I read the comments on an F1 article, instead of some intelligent comments or adult debate, we get the usual Lewis this Jenson this rubbish. Seriously, I hope you guys are all 12 years old otherwise you have some major problems that need addressing.
    The BBC F1 site has some good articles and some not so good. Its a shame the comments always end up in a primary school playground

  • Comment posted by DRSaxby, at 20:22 20 Mar 2013

    All these so called F1 experts coming out of the woodwork to air their personal opinions. We have only had 1 Race!! Let the teams sort it out and let us sit back and enjoy great drivers facing a challenge. So many people moan when it is boring and moan again when teams are faced with a difficult period. What do you want? It is racing after all.

  • Comment posted by U14403732, at 17:07 20 Mar 2013

    Jenson "no grip" Button.

    "it's the best car Mclaren have ever made"

    lmao

  • Comment posted by U14712575, at 16:42 20 Mar 2013

    Its only the media and the memory deficient who think McLaren will be P9 and P11 for much longer. They have far too strong a team and personel. The car will improve, the positions will improve, Perez will improve. The fact Whitmarsh is having to answer crisis questions is laughable. The pace isn't mystifying, they just probably dont fancy telling their rivals where they are weak and need upgrades.

  • Comment posted by als_seaham, at 16:38 20 Mar 2013

    @117
    I heard somewhere that at Jerez test Mclaren had used a ride height that they cold not/would not be able to use at races. This may have been to test some part or another but enabled the ride issues to be dialled out.

  • Comment posted by daveH, at 15:54 20 Mar 2013

    If Martin Whitmarsh was a football manager he would have been fired by now. Looses one of the fastest drivers and oversees the introduction of a poor car all in the same six month period! Amazing!

  • Comment posted by adgwytc, at 12:37 20 Mar 2013

    @20 - I admit I am an LH fan but if McLaren can get the car right early enough (and we will find out soon if they are developing it) and it is to JB's liking, he could be in for a shout at the WDC. Having worked at Williams I am a big fan of theirs so would like to see them progress. Which is why I said I hope McLaren don't go that way. Hopefully Malaysia will see a scorcher of a race...

  • Comment posted by CoolKev, at 12:56 21 Mar 2013

    Natural talent can't be bought! It's gifted to one from the Ethers above!

    If Mclaren want their lead man to improve performance, they must focus there efforts more on JB's growing paradigm of self-doubt an apportioning blame wholly to the MP4 28.

    If JB can stop being afraid of accountability, an turn that fear into positive energy - I promise you - his higher performances will be unstoppable!

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