F1 » McLaren: Kovalainen will win again in '08

well said Shirley Knott exactly right it is how the driver handles and gets the car setup the mechanics agree with the drivers when altering setups.

If I was Ron, I really would NOT make predictions this season.

After the 5th race, everyone was predicting that Ferrari were running away with the titles.
Same thing after Magny Cours.
Then, after Hockenheim, everyone predicted that Mclaren would run rings around the Ferraris in Hungary, and that they were 'untouchable'....

...wrong on all counts.

This season's been notoriously difficult to call, so Mclaren really need to avoid making grandiose statements like this.

(Cont)

Must be the set-up then...... Is Ron creeping around the garage in the dead at night with a spanner altering a few settings?

NO!!

Ron MIGHT favour Lewis, but the bottom line is that Heiki is not quite as good as Lewis YET(Not trying to take anything away from him) Next season maybe things will change.

psychologically Heiki may be thinking that he is no good, but it's up to him to prove everyone wrong.

So can somebody please explain exactly what Ron is doing to slow the cars down....I see it on every post.... It's Ron favouring Lewis and that's why Heiki isn't winning.
You tell me the equipment is EXACTLY the same - they don't have a wagon load of inferior parts - the strategy is not much different to any other team - 1 car pits the next car pits 2 laps later - that just leaves the driver, the mechanics and the set-up ..... people are saying that Heiki is a better driver than Lewis. so it's not the driver.
The mechanics? doing the best they are capable of (presumably)and at least mostly with a wealth of experience.

Heikki's win is by no means a suprise.Putting all the Lewis hype aside, he 's no weaker driver. The only problem is McLaren, Ron will never allow one more Senna/Prost or Lewis/Alonso mental/metal duel. Heikki will get some wins to the end of the season, but he just can't be a title contender. We will see if Ron is betting on the wrong horse...again. The other teams would kill for driver like Heikki-natural born driver, smart, calculated, fast and smart enough not the stir the water while unnecessary.
Good luck Heikki, maybe you can replace Kimi when he hangs his helmet...

No Shirley, I don't think he's implying that necessarily. He's just reading between the lines of the McLaren comment that he quoted. Can you imagine the team principals saying the same words about Lewis? Read it again and just replace the names in your mind:

"I'm fully confident that Heikki will win another grand prix before the end of the season, and we fully aim to provide him with the equipment to do so."

They can't have it both ways. Either they favour Lewis within the team, psychologically, or they believe Heiki is an inferior driver and will have to start supporting Lewis for the championship sooner or later.

Sly,

I'm sure it's a stupid question, but are you suggesting that McLaren (and presumably other teams) have a wagon load of inferior parts that they take to a Grand Prix just for the '2nd driver'? surely the equipment is always the same, it's all down to how the driver uses it. If the driver says put more wing on/drop tyre pressure by a couple of pound/ alter the brake balance etc then that's what the mechanics do.... admitedly the advice given may be wrong, but again, that's down to the driver to sort that out.

It's like Lewis is Rons McLaren son and Heikki the obediant loyal McLaren Doggy. If Ron loves dogs then Heikki is No 1. He still needs to win on merrit though. With the strange goings on at the front of F1 races this season I'm sure he should get another win or two. Now fetch the chequered flag.....good boy!

Disconnect the radio and let him race would be my recommendation. Otherwise he's #2.

“I'm fully confident that Heikki will win another grand prix before the end of the season, and we fully aim to provide him with the equipment to do so."

Best equipment that's left after they've picked out the ones for Lewis' car.

But yes Heikki will win another grand prix, that is if they don't radio him that "Lewis is faster", codeword for "let Hamilton through!"

I pity Heikki.