Lauda: "McLaren feeling Whitmarsh effect"

  • Published on 21 Apr 2014 10:30
  • comments 0
  • By: Danny Sosef
McLaren is going through a 'Whitmarsh' effect, according to F1 legend Niki Lauda. Just two weeks ago in Bahrain, Jenson Button said the only quicker car in the field was the dominant Mercedes.

But in China, both the 2009 world champion and Kevin Magnussen were non points-scoring midfielders.

Button sounded particularly frustrated. "I don't think (other) people brought that much (new parts) here, so I don't know what we're doing really," he said.

"Hopefully back at the factory they can stay positive and update the car because at the moment this isn't good enough."

McLaren's new boss in 2014, Eric Boullier, said he sat with Button and Magnussen after the race in China, because "they are both frustrated".

"But I can promise you that if you look at the data, you can see that McLaren are coming back, and that's what is most important," he is quoted by the Mirror.

Lauda, who is Mercedes' F1 chairman, thinks that after the depths of McLaren's 2013 crisis, the British team is now struggling for form in the wake of recent management reshuffles.

"You have to say that last year the McLaren was also not a top car," said the great Austrian.

"So you have to overcome this bad performance from last year and the new formula. If you have the new ingredients, you can be lucky.

"But if you don't have them and there is a big change with (Martin) Whitmarsh going and Ron (Dennis) coming back, these things take time to change. They don't happen overnight," Lauda explained.

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team McLaren
  • Points 37
  • Podiums 0
  • Grand Prix 41
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 19 1980 (44)
  • Place of b. Frome, Somerset, GB
  • Weight 72 kg
  • Length 1.82 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar