Fans - Malcolm McLaren

Advantages: Brilliant car. Well funded team. Two great drivers.
Disadvantages: Some reliability problems this season

...McLaren the British-based Formula I team are one of the most successful motor racing teams in history. Formed in the late 1960's this team has won numerous grand prixs and are currently with Ferrari the best tean in Formula I racing. They are a well funded team and have arguably the best driver pairings of any team. Mika Hakkinen has won the world championship twice and David Couthard is undeniably a potential world champion. Currently he is second in the championship behind Michael Schumacher,who many afficinados regard as currently the greatest driver in Formula I. There are few niggling problems facing McLaren ,one is the apparent loss of form of Hakkinen,but he is a pretty determined driver and I believe he would like to win a third world championship very much. David Couthard had the terrible experience of an air crash but seems to... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Speed, Power
Disadvantages: 3-seater, Expensive Parts

...The McLaren F1 was designed as the ultimate road car. It was to have minimum weight, maximum driveability, practicality, and lots of driver appeal. It was designed in 1990 with the concept already laid down but still without the team knowing what engine to use. Whatever it was, it had to be large in capacity yet light in weight and also compact. Turbo or Supercharging was out of the question - it had to be naturally aspirated but still with a power output of 500+ bhp. Eventually the team decided on BMW's unleaded 6 Litre V12 with quad overhead cams operating four valves a cylinder with variable valve timing. The engine block and heads are cast Aluminium alloy. The cam carriers, housing for the variable valve timing, and the casing for the sump are all a magnesium alloy, bringing the engine's weight to just 573lbs. The engine develops... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Good drivers and plenty of funding
Disadvantages: Division between the drivers

...McLaren were the most succesful team in the 1980's and early '90s but had a lean spell towards the end of the last decade, before Mika Hakkinen won them the title twice. There seems to be the beginnings of strife within the team now though, as both drivers have openly stated they mean to win the title for themselves this year, regardless of their team-mate. Reliability is a problem also for the team, with a number of retirements due to mechanical failure. More worrying is the recent form of Hakkinen, it appears he may have lost motivation and there are rumours he plans to retire at the end of this season. Coulthard is a very good driver, perhaps even championship material but he needs to step out of Mika's shadow (which he did well at Monaco) and prove he is a match for Michael Schumacher. The team has the funding to... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful