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McLaren stands firm on shark fin veto

Published on 26 Nov 2017 09:25
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By: Fergal Walsh

McLaren is standing firm on its 'veto' about F1's shark fin-style engine covers for 2018. Originally, the FIA banned the aesthetically-questionable appendages for next year, but the teams then lobbied to have the ban lifted.

However, at the eleventh hour, McLaren withdrew its vote, effectively exercising a 'veto'. But with most of the teams having designed their 2018 cars for a 'shark fin', some suspected McLaren's decision was a deliberate spoiler: "Maybe we'll have a chat this weekend and see if we can persuade Zak (Brown) to put the fin back," Red Bull's Christian Horner said in Abu Dhabi.

However, McLaren team boss Eric Boullier said that isn't going to happen: "It's funny," he told the Spanish broadcaster Movistar. "Six months ago the teams voted in favour of it being removed from next year's regulations, and now several teams want it to be back again. So why should we vote again? With the regulations as they are we did what the FIA wanted, so everyone should be happy," Boullier said.

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527

The last half of the season has IMO been a turn for the worse. I dont necessarily think its a problem with the cars, if anything I blame the current PU regulations. Saving on units, saving on tyres... Ultimately, what they are doing is saving us from some of the fun we and the drivers want. Right... [Read more]

1
Nov 26 2017 - 16:59

F1 News McLaren

Replies (6)

renaultFanF1

Posts: 80
shark fin is the least of their problems
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- Nov 26 2017 - 09:32
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
I never liked the looks of the shark fins, and the shark bins were an outright danger, so good on McLaren for vetoing them. I realise the fins were great for the aero, and I could certainly like having a sort of smaller fin like the one Mercedes has, but if we have to be on the extremes, I'd rather not have a fin. Might also help McLaren's strategy if they already started working on a finless car. Will it be enough for compensating for their current lack of funds and the extra time they had to put on other resources? Not sure.
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- Nov 26 2017 - 11:43
RogerF1

Posts: 501
But you can't have a shark fin when you're sponsored by a surf wear company!
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- Nov 26 2017 - 14:11
RogerF1

Posts: 501
On a serious note, I do not like them either and Boullier has a good point, the other teams have had plenty of time to object.
Going live, that was one of the most or the most uneventful starting lap of the season. No position changes after the 1st lap in leading 12!
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- Nov 26 2017 - 14:16
RogerF1

Posts: 501
And it turned out to be the most uneventful race of the whole season. Hats off to Fernando the only guy to overtake in the top 10. Woeful and uninspiring. Is this the pinnacle of motor sport that I have watched for 40 years
- + 0
- Nov 26 2017 - 16:16
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  The last half of the season has IMO been a turn for the worse. I dont necessarily think its a problem with the cars, if anything I blame the current PU regulations. Saving on units, saving on tyres... Ultimately, what they are doing is saving us from some of the fun we and the drivers want. Right now, removing the DRS would be lethal for the sport. Noone would be able to overtake, apart from the Mercedes powered teams.
  + 1
  
  Nov 26 2017 - 16:59