McLaren held crisis meeting at Paul Ricard
- Published on 25 Jun 2018 11:41
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- By: Danny Sosef
Stoffel Vandoorne has played down an apparent 'crisis meeting' that took place in the McLaren motor home on Sunday. Reports suggest the beleaguered team's entire race crew met inside the motor home at Paul Ricard, amid reports some staff are planning a revolt.
"I can't tell you exactly what was said, but there was a little word of encouragement for the whole team," said McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne. "All the staff were there. It's difficult times for us, but everyone is pushing and we hope it gets better soon," he told the RTBF broadcaster.
The crisis meeting came at the end of an abysmal weekend for McLaren, whose orange Renault-powered car was among the slowest in the entire field.
Asked if he would prefer to be at home rather than running around at the back, Fernando Alonso insisted: "No, I prefer to be here. I am one of 20 drivers doing the best job in the world. It's true we have not been very competitive, but we are here working, doing something, trying," he told Spanish media.
"It's true we were very, very bad, but I'm seventh or eighth in the championship so I must be doing something," Alonso added.
And he backed McLaren to improve the situation soon. "I trust the team," said Alonso. "We were very uncompetitive this weekend, but I know that new things are coming for the next races."
However, rumours persist that Alonso will call it a day at the end of the year, perhaps choosing instead to head a new McLaren-branded Indycar team for 2019.
For the F1 team, McLaren is in talks with Daniel Ricciardo, but also waiting in the wings is impressive junior driver Lando Norris.
"We are focused on Stoffel and Fernando," team boss Eric Boullier said at Paul Ricard. "But I certainly will not wait to see if Santa Claus will bring me a driver," he added.
"It's premature to talk about Lando Norris but everything is possible. I can't say anything more on this subject right now," he added.
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Replies (24)
Login to replyf1ski
Posts: 726
Look at the picture of Boullier. His face is not swollen and red without reason. He is the problem at mclaren.Get a guy like Marko Lauda in there things will change quickly. I bet the guys are wanting to walk out because things that need to implemented aren't being used because Boullier refuses to try what his guys are saying to do different.
F1_IS_Dead
Posts: 123
Is Boullier really the reason? Shortly after he got employed, he tried to speak with a British accent. They made him do it, at least at the beginning.
Now think about it. If a man in his supposed position wasn't allowed to talk with his French accent, what power does he really have?
f1ski
Posts: 726
Look where renault/lotus are today.
talktohenry
Posts: 362
I never see teams who have loads of engine changes over a short space do well, without engine stability you never get performance. Mc have been unlucky with Merc dumping them, then signing with Honda, now they have a Renault and no works deal which in my view is even worse for them on the longer term.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Stability certainly helps, but McLaren were the ones to willingly depart from Mercedes. Mercedes quite literally didnt dump them, McLaren dumped Mercedes. McLaren has thus put themselves in this mess themselves.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
How the mighty have fallen. I never thought we'd see the day where McLaren and Williams would be in the positions they are in today.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
Its rather a gradual descent than a fall, if you look back from 2010.
Bhurt
Posts: 320
It was nice to see Fernando quitting a race again. Such a classy individual. Better to DNF than admit defeat to his teammate.
Kean
Posts: 692
Actually his rear suspension broke.
Bhurt
Posts: 320
He wanted to quit the race long before that on the radio.
Kean
Posts: 692
That's true, but he didn't.
F1_IS_Dead
Posts: 123
I think, he has a special button. When he doesn't want to race anymore, he just presses it and the car fails. ;) Schumacher had it too.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
I'm running out of popcorn very soon at this rate. But please, keep on entertaining, McLaren - and Williams, for that matter.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Mind lending some this way? I clearly underestimated the amount of popcorn I needed going into this season.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
I think we'll have to buy in bulk, this show could go on for quite a while.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Yes indeed. Tell you what: I bring the beer and coke, and you bring the popcorn!
talktohenry
Posts: 362
They doing everything right, but the Gods seem to run against them, if they didn't have FA this year, they would of had very few points.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Seems that news outlets are so busy recycling news about McLaren's crisis that in this case they didn't even post the result of the race...
siggy74
Posts: 194
Eric Boullier wont be in place at the end of the season.... FOrgone conclusion that Alonso wont be race this pile of rubbish round the track. may do better with the sainsburys shopping trolley.
This bunch of muppets think giving freddo,s to the guys for working over and sleepless nights will help the team. Mind you it is only the one guy that is unhappy with freddos, aaa eric?
no chnace ricciardo would join this out fit after the past 4 years of pain Alonso has had, no star driver for them next year. sorry tail of paid driver on the way :(
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
If true, i am happy that, they at least realized, they are in crisis.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
They don't possess great chassis, they don't have best Engine. Its time to invest every penny into the development of the car, let Alonso go Indy, and bring in Russell, while they build the car back into the contention.
Kean
Posts: 692
Something has to be done! I for one believe the stories of uproar among the employees, and that the top brass is to blame. Giving them candy bars as a reward.... for the love of... Perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea for the owners to fire those guys and bring back Whitmarsh. Also, now I say this being a huge Alonso fan, but I think the best thing for the team would be if Alonso left. Cyril Abiteboul said something I agree with (!!) regarding his own team, and it rings true for McLaren even more so: "We are not yet at the highest level so we cannot afford to have selfish individuals." By selfish individuals he's referring to star drivers the likes of Hamilton, Vettel and Alonso...
siggy74
Posts: 194
The employees wife has come forward and said the issue with the freddo`s was that it was a gift hamper full of em... Rofl.
And some worry about the duty of care to employee`s and the colesterol levels being to high.
Good old eric said to the guys wife" thats alright then ,we can give them to the guys in my office that dont do anything... "
Did anybody hear the radio bit of freddo`s being offered to alonso and the response :D
" im over weight, have no brakes, have no tyres, and i cant face another freddo. i really dont like em & They dont give me points. i really feel sick at the moment"
These chocolate jokes :D wait for the freddo stickers on the car for the main sponsor,lol
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Do you recon they will be their title sponsor for next year, and will the car be chocolate brown or purple with a frog on it? :D