McLaren Finally on Track After First Win

The members of Team McLaren must feel like the sun has finally appeared in the sky above the 2009 Formula One season after they finally made the breakthrough they were looking for in Hungary. They only scored 14 points in the first nine races of the season before heading to Hungary, a total that is no where near the number of points they were expecting to have by this time. They finally made it to the top of the podium in Hungary, after a terrible showing at Silverstone that obviously resulted in them putting their heads together to come to a few uncomfortable and possibly embarrassing conclusions.

Red Bull has had McLaren's number so far this year

They were probably very surprised to find themselves almost 3 seconds off the pace being set by the leaders at the beginning of the season. They had a pretty fierce battle with Ferrari for the 2008 Formula One championship and were probably convinced that the MP4-24 was going to be a solid entry for the 2009 Formula One season. To find themselves lacking down force and needing to scramble to improve their aerodynamic performance was probably a troubling position to find themselves in. A total rethinking of the aerodynamic foundation of the MP4-24 was necessary and after a good result in Hungary they seem to have recovered quickly and well.

It’s certainly possible that the battle with Ferrari and their approach to the changes to the rules for 2009 Formula One season might have put them behind the eight ball. The efforts of the other teams might have been under estimated and they might have been a little more inventive using the changes to their benefit. The result of all of these mistakes seems to have put them eight or nine months behind the other teams at the start of the 2009 season. All is forgiven if they can get back on track and give Lewis Hamilton a car that he can compete with and they seem to at least be on the right path.

The rest of the season should be a real race right to the last competition of the season and increase expectations and the energy for the 2010 season if the MP4-24 gets up to speed. Hamilton is pretty far back in the standings currently but you never know what can happen with a fast car and motivated driver.

“Image: Zuma Press”