McLaren F-1 (mcclaren.com.uk/)

The McLaren-Mercedes F1 team finished last season in third place in the Constructors Championship behind only Williams BMW and Ferrari. But they also finished the season with two drivers who seemed to be going in different directions.

Kimi Raikkonen finished a scant 2 points behind champion Michael Schumacher while David Coulthard was a distant 40 points back. Coulthards showing basically cost the team a shot at second place in the Constructors race.

I don’t see anything radically different happening for this team. Coulthard knows he is out at the end of this season to make way for Juan Pablo Montoya. With the Scot being one of the oldest F1 drivers he probably knows his days in the sport are numbered. It’s not that he is washed up; it is just the way it happens in F1. The premium is not on experience, but rather it is on youth.

Coulthard finished second just two years ago. Last years fifth place finish was his worst since 1996 when he finished 7th. Now the team is focused on Raikkonen. The Finn is 8 years younger and with his second place finish of last season, is being touted by many as the prime candidate to unseat Schumacher this season.

As has been the case for several years the team will once again sport the Mercedes V-10 engine and Michelin tyres. However, early reports and complaints from the drivers say the engine is down on power. This was done in an effort to make sure the engine lasts the weekend. Raikkonen however thinks the car is underpowered and unreliable. The Finn has also stated he did not think the car would last the race in Australia. The MP4-19 has not shown any real promise in testing. Raikkonen did have the fast lap in Valencia on Feb. 19th, but the team has struggled since. In testing at Imola and Silverstone the team was middle of the pack at best.

Last season Coulthard won at Australia and Raikkonen won the next race at Malaysia. From all indications the team is not on pace to repeat that start. But McLaren has deep pockets and team manager Ron Dennis will have the team competitive sooner rather than later. No less an expert than Bernie Ecclestone has said he thinks Raikkonen will win the title, although one must take whatever Bernie says with a grain of salt.

I figured this team would struggle with personal chemistry with Coulthard being the lame duck driver, but if they have car issues they will struggle to stay ahead of the surging Renault team this season.