McLaren is expecting to struggle through the opening few races of the season. While the rest of the sport gets up to speed for the second year of F1's challenging new 'power unit' era, the newly Honda-powered team is struggling not only for pace but also simply to run the new MP4-30.
But with Fernando Alonso still recovering from his Barcelona crash a week ago, reserve Kevin Magnussen got his first taste of the 2015 package on Saturday and declared it better than last year's Mercedes-powered car.
"It is a good base," he said, "and feels more consistent, stable and predictable than its predecessor. The driveability is better. Last year's car was very pointy and hard to drive," said the Dane. "Overall, on the aerodynamic and mechanical side, the car feels good."
Magnussen did, however, admit that McLaren has been unable to develop the car over the Jerez and Barcelona running to schedule, meaning the MP4-30 currently has "probably less grip" than the fully-developed 2014 machine. He was speaking on Saturday, on the eve of the end of the 12 days of winter testing and just two weeks before the season opener in Melbourne.
"We won't be as ready as we would like," admitted team boss Eric Boullier, "but we will do our best. The positive is everything is working, but reliability is a concern, clearly," said the Frenchman. "I don't know how long it's going to take. I think a few races but at least by Europe we should be ready to be more competitive," Boullier added. (GMM)
McLaren thinks to be more competitive after 'a few races'
- Published on 01 Mar 2015 08:52
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
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Jan 26
I. Hadjar
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Jan 27
M. Verstappen
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Jan 28
A. Antonelli
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Jan 29
G. Russell
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Jan 30
L. Hamilton
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
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Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
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Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
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Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
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Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
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Spain
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
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Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Driver profile
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- Points 631
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- Grand Prix 204
- Country ES
- Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (45)
- Place of b. Oviedo, ES
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.71 m
- 188,072 comments on Aston Martin
78 members have this team as their favourite
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Team profile
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- Base Brackley, Germany
- Michael Schumacher 3
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- Lewis Hamilton 10
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli 12
- Lewis Hamilton 44
- George Russell 63
- Valtteri Bottas 77
- 638,662 comments on Mercedes
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