McLaren to make the "biggest change" in 2018
- Published on 09 Jan 2018 13:33
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- By: Fergal Walsh
McLaren executive director Zak Brown has predicted that McLaren will undergo the biggest change of any team for the upcoming season. Brown has previously confirmed that a new livery will be used this year, with many believing it to be a papaya orange colour.
Brown told Autosport that the new livery has not yet been finalised, as it has to consider the sponsors. However, he admitted that the livery will have a nod to the past, suggesting that the traditional McLaren colour of orange will be used.
The Woking-based squad will also run with Renault power this year, after ending its turbulent three-year partnership with Honda last year. Brown hopes that the new deal with Renault will see McLaren return to the front amid a year of complete change for the team.
"The car's not going to look the same as last year," Brown said. "Our whole brand, the visibility of McLaren, is going to go to the next level and it's going to be exciting. We know what a lot of the other teams are going to look like, but hopefully people will see the biggest change on and off the track at McLaren going into Australia."
Brown also revealed that the team will be doing something different with its garage this year: "We are calling it a new era, we are back and we are going to have some great things like a new garage. One of the things that McLaren hasn't done in recent years is be a leader.
"With our garage and everything, we look like everyone else – so we need to step up and be the guys in Australia where everyone says, did you see what McLaren did? That is what McLaren always was. I think with our lack of competitiveness, we have kind of blended in. We need to get back to being a team that people are envious of. I feel we are on our way."
Fergal Walsh
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Replies (11)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Seeing as McLaren's performance has had a negative correlation to the amount of yapping about how good your car will be the last 4-5 years (r2=0.91), I'd strongly suggest you cut down on the talking.
Kean
Posts: 692
I get the feeling he's talking about visability, not performance. They should stick to that and say nothing about their expectations regarding performance, they should do their talking on the track, 'cause like you said they haven't been able to walk the walk in recent years.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I hope it is. But I wonder if I'll like next year's livery. If it looks anything like their Indy livery, it'll be far from pretty.
Pauli
Posts: 140
I don't really connect orange to McLaren... because Papaya orange was last used in race before I was born :) It was surprising long time a go when sponsors started dictating team colours. That makes me wonder how long until a new sponsors comes along and selects a new colour scheme.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
Well, in the case of McLaren, probably not in the near future, if at all. They seem to struggle A LOT with finding a title sponsor.
reg
Posts: 162
Well last year,s livery scheme was absolutely dreadful and looked slow too, so even if the car goes no faster it will not look so slow next year.
I do wonder if all that black around the engine on last years scheme was to mask oil leaks from the rubbish Honda PU.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
I'd love to buy McLaren for what they're worth, and sell them for what they think they're worth.
I'd never have to work another day in my life!
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Boy, there are money to make in businesses like that. Its just like the kind of money I could make whenever a CEO of a gaming company says that micro transactions are just "optional, we put them in to provide player choice". Even if it was but an Euro per time thats been said, I'd be rich by the end of this very day.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
All the geniuses hating on McLaren for trying to be innovative seem to forget that Formula 1 money is about marketing. Nobody is making significant profit off their team's performance (i.e. F1 Prize Money). Not even Ferrari. I don't know what McLaren is doing, or if it's any good, but I am glad the are talking about being innovative with their marketing. I too am frustrated with their promises every year, but the day I stop hoping they will improve, I'll become one of those crappy fans who switch teams every year, always rooting for the champion. I applaud innovation, whether I ends up working or not. For other McLaren fans, we have more reason to be hopeful this year than we've had in a while.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
The only way McLaren is going to be a serious player is if they have a Merc power unit in their car, and we all know that's not going to happen.
Barron
Posts: 625
Well they already did that the first year but the PU (or the car) sucked. They’ve had some demonstrably poor chassis since except they mightn’t have. Hard to tell with the weak Honda PU. At least we’ll have a benchmark (Red Bull) in 2018 but if the car still sucks, it’s definitely down to the PU or the car. So it’ll be all clear by the time the 2nd or 3rd race of 2018 has taken place. Or not. I wonder what Eric Boullier first words will be? 1. “Does anyone know where I can get more pies? 2. “We definitely show signs of improvement. We ran in a strong 15th place until Alonso decided to retire” or 3. “The Van Doorne/Verstappen battle upfront was epic! Shame about Alonso coming together with Stroll in the 1st lap”.
The short answer to the question of McLaren’s performance in 2018, is a Gallic Shrug.