Formula One ( F1 )

What? Are you suggesting go-faster-stripes dont actually work?

The only thing that makes a car go faster is red paint. Ask @Dammit.

Yeah, but they need to cover up the fact they have fewer sponsors than Marussia, or whatever they're called this week.

I don't think they need that many sponsors as long as Mansour Ojjeh keeps putting his hands into his pockets and they keep knocking out great road cars.

Btw Ojjeh is not that happy about how things are going and wanted Dennis out. The car company is still asking banks for capital and I wouldn't call their car(s) that great either. My 2 cents

The original MP4 was nice, but why did they then decide to give their road cars really stupid and ugly looking headlamps. I think this rot set in about the same time. The two occurrences must be related.

Problem is that headlamps is the only thing that has changed since, in all of their models. Even the P1 has same basic engine and chassis plus an hybrid system inferior to the Ferrari and Porsche's ones, just kind of bolted on top of the engine in place of the starter motor. But they're a small company still so no surprises.
The headlamps btw are meant to look like their swoosh badge.

Needs moar black!!!

^^ as above

Any predictions for Spain yet?

Are you all suggesting McLaren is building crap cars? HA, apart from some safe styling and slightly dubious headlights, especially on the 570 (note to self, when I design my car, don't incorporate logo into design...) They are doing an excellent job - small company or not. Far more interesting than Fezzas.

On that note, saw a lovely Ferrari 512 cruising down Grosvenor Rd on the weekend. I was smashing the C'dale on the tailwind and a dude just followed for a bit and then gave it just enough beans to get the engine singing. Thumbs up all round!

I'll just leave this here...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FURORE-FORMULA-ONE-JENSEN-BUTTON-REPLICA-ROAD-LEGAL-RARE-KIT-TRACK-DAY-CAR-2012-/221756967868

Ross Brawn has just fallen on his sword.

Sorry to disappoint you but the only things I like about Maccas are suspensions and carbon structure which are somewhat better than in a Ferrari or a Porsche in theory.
Don't like the styling, the interiors, the engines, their brake activated diff solution, their model range steucture, their prices, the noise, their marketing campaigns, the racing team and mainly bog mouth Ron Dennis.

McLaren have a marketing campaign??

Yes. It consists of Ron Dennis coming out at every new car launch with the same "this is the fastest car there's always been and there will always be".
Just to end up loosing against pretty much any other car in comparison tests and selling half as many as he predicted.
But then again, I'm a Ferrari fan so what do I know? ;)

Not sure how you worked that out- The P1 engine is totaly different to the MP4 and the hybrid system is questionably superior to the Porsche 918 system with more operating options. If your talking about a bolt on hybrid system then the Ferrari is surely the one which fits the description best? Its basically just a small KERS system on the back of the gearbox and in no way is superior to the Mclaren system. Even Ferarri say it isnt a full hybrid car like the Mclaren and Porsche.

Pastor's new car.

Why are they not racing those!

As a start the mclaren one doesn't have brake regen. The Ferrari one regenerates even from the e-diff which mclaren doesn't have. It simulates one with its brakes wasting energy. Then the engine is the same, just slightly modified as in any other model.
But obviously it is all subjective to a point.
All I know is I really don't like McLarens

Any ideas on what's causing the Lotus engine cover to blow out? Isn't that the second time that's happened this season?

This is a question for @gridds.

A defective bolt afaik

(lack of) magnets.