Ferguson to McLaren?
If there was ever a time when a team needed a bit of a boost – the time is now and the team is McLaren.
Sir Alex Ferguson, to retire from football at the end of the season, might be just what the team need. He has always been able to raise morale in a team and perform what has, at times, seemed impossible.
This was his motivational half time talk during the 1999 European Cup Final (coincidentally, played in Barcelona) :
“At the end of this game, the European Cup will be only six feet away from you and you’ll not even able to touch it if we lose. And for many of you that will be the closest you will ever get. Don’t you dare come back in here without giving your all.”
Maybe that’s what’s called for at the Woking based MTC? The team have spent the last three weeks working around the clock to try and make their under performing car turn a corner, quite literally. There have been aero tests in Spain, plenty of late nights and even some blood, sweat and tears one would imagine. Alas, it doesn’t appear to have done the trick.
Yes, Sergio Perez might have qualified in 9th place (and will start in 8th due to a 3 place drop for Felipe Massa for impeding Mark Webber) but Jenson Button could only manage to finish 14th and after the session when I spoke to him live on BBC Radio 5 Live he said the tyres could well have been to blame;
“The tyre pressures were massively high, so I don’t know if something was wrong or if they were set wrong, but we’re looking into it now,”
Speaking about the upgrades and whether they ha worked he said just not doing enough;
“They’re making a little bit of a difference but nowhere near enough to really challenge up the front and everyone has got new parts so it makes it very tricky for us to catch up.”
I put it to you on twitter – how do you feel about McLaren at the moment and this is what you had to say.
Michael Hackney said “We have the fastest car in F1, but we’re going to chuck it for something different in 2013.” Worked like a charm…not.”
Sara Morris believes “they’ve got the resources to keep developing so I believe they’ll come good I the end”
Matthew Lyons said “Really feel for Jenson. Big underachievement in recent years. Most successful team after Ferrari. They are due a title!”
Gav says “Keep calm & carry on is what they will be doing, I’m sure it will come good, makes you wonder if they are trying 2014 car.”
and Stephen O’Neill had this to say about how he feels “Disappointed that once again after all their efforts they have come to the season further back than previous years, need speed.”
The question has been asked of Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh; If he were in football would he have been sacked by now? I think a lot more pressure would be being applied if we were talking about the beautiful game, but Whitmarsh is confident on his place in the team and laughingly said that “As far as he knew, the board weren’t considering his position” and that he certainly believes in the team and believes they are going to power through this. He said “No, I’m not considering anything other than getting this team back where it belongs.”
Is McLaren in real trouble or will they (and Martin Whitmarsh) be able to turn things around and even prosper? Time really will be the judge of that as the team continue to work full steam at MTC and at the track. However, you can’t help thinking that it’s a shame Sir Alex prefers a different kind of horse power to the F1 variety, otherwise it might be time to see if he fancies a half time team talk with a difference.
