A detailed performance analysis of McLaren-Mercedes in the 2012 Formula 1 season so far
McLaren was considered to be the team to beat after the first Grand Prix in Australia where both of the team’s drivers finished with podium positions but they have not been able to live up to the favourites tag since.
Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton finished first and third respectively in Australia scoring 40 valuable points in the race but in the very next race the duo only managed 15 points. The team shrugged off the result as bad weather marred most teams with disappointing
results.
The Chinese Grand Prix saw an improved performance from the team as McLaren scored 33 points from the race, showing that they were going to dominate the season, but the difficult part of the season for the team was yet to come.
The fallout from form for the team started from the Bahrain Grand Prix where they only managed to score 4 points from the race, it was a poor result from a leading team of the season. McLaren hoped to bounce back in the next race at Spain but it became another
disappointing result as the duo only managed six points from the race.
McLaren was trying to look into why its drivers were unable to show the pace they did in the earlier races of the season. Going into Monaco they hoped for improved results but further disappointment awaited the team as they only managed 10 points.
Button had been very poor in the races and was clearly having issues trying to cope with the Pirelli compounds. The team came up with improved results at the Canadian Grand Prix as Hamilton won the race, but Button again failed to score any points.
European Grand Prix after Hamilton’s win in Canada was hoped to bore good results for the team but they only managed 4 points. The home race, British GP was hoped to be the turning point for the team as the whole team wanted to perform for the home fans
but McLaren could not do much with only 5 points scored from the season.
The team has been able to regain some success in the last two races of the season before the summer break. The German GP gave 18 points to the team while the Hungarian GP gave 33 points as both Button and Hamilton were among points finishing with podiums.
The team has been able to leave the summer break on a high, and coming back from the break they would be hoping for an improved and consistent result in the remainder of the season. It is going to be difficult as the competitiveness in the season is very
high.
The team will need both its drivers to score points if they are to challenge for the Constructors title. McLaren despite its up and down performances of the season has still managed to remain at second place of the standings but only 1 point ahead of a very
strong looking Lotus at third.
It will be a fierce battle looking to go down the wire as the season progresses forward.
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