McLaren facing 'real challenge' to win in F1 2013 - Jonathan Neale
McLaren's managing director Jonathan Neale admits the team's troubled MP4-28 is unlikely to become a racewinner across the second half of the 2013 championship

A substantial upgrade package at Hungary boosted the team's form and led to Jenson Button saying 2013 was not a write-off - echoing team principal Martin Whitmarsh's call not to give up on victory this year.
Neale however says standing on the top step of the podium could prove beyond McLaren's reach, particularly given the increasing need to devote resources to 2014 development.
Asked if McLaren could win this year, Neale told a Vodafone phone-in: "I think that will be a real challenge if I'm honest.
"Most teams by now will be switching the greater proportion of their resource, and much of the design organisation, across to next year's car.
"We're almost through August, and there is a lot of work to be done to get ready for next year, so I think inevitably we'll increasingly start to focus on 2014."
Asked whether Jenson Button's targeting of a podium at Spa was optimistic, Neale added: "I want to underplay that.
"I don't want to put words in Jenson's mouth, but I think his euphoria was that he could still see the leaders for a greater proportion of the time in the last few races we've been to.
"Spa is a fantastic place, drivers are always excited to get there and we love it as well, but it is notoriously difficult; I don't think anyone would go feeling confident.

"The car has improved through the summer certainly - both drivers are capable of scoring points and we've seen some double scores, which is always pleasing.
"We worked incredibly hard to take a package of upgrades to Hungary. We didn't get everything on the package that we were expecting, so there's still outstanding work to do and we'll continue that over Spa.
"But we certainly haven't achieved what we wanted to with this car, and there remains an awful lot of work to do to make sure we properly understand that and get ourselves in good shape for next season.
"I think we will struggle to be right at the front, but nevertheless we are hoping to make some further gains."

Nico Hulkenberg: Sauber F1 struggles a chance to prove character
Belgium preview quotes: Mercedes

Latest news
Las Vegas approves plan to shut Strip for F1 race until 2032
Officials in Las Vegas have approved a plan to shut the Strip for the Formula 1 grand prix for the next 10 years as they eye a “lifetime in partnership.”
Porsche boss “as surprised as anyone” over Gulf-Williams F1 social media frenzy
Porsche’s head of motorsport Thomas Laudenbach found it “funny” that streamlining its Instagram channels caused a Formula 1 social media speculation frenzy last month.
Why Albon won't be "throwing around laptops" to gain a 2023 F1 edge
OPINION: At the Williams 2023 Formula 1 season launch, Alex Albon’s easy-going nature was again a point of focus. But does being “too nice” really matter in modern F1? Albon’s own expressions put that in an intriguing new light
Why Alfa Romeo has kept its blade roll hoop on 2023 F1 car
The Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team has retained its unique blade roll hoop for the C43 but designed it to withstand load tests that the FIA will introduce in 2024.
Why Albon won't be "throwing around laptops" to gain a 2023 F1 edge
OPINION: At the Williams 2023 Formula 1 season launch, Alex Albon’s easy-going nature was again a point of focus. But does being “too nice” really matter in modern F1? Albon’s own expressions put that in an intriguing new light
How the last Sauber-built Alfa offers F1 2023 evolution clues
Alfa Romeo has become the first Formula 1 team to reveal a new car for 2023, in addition to a fresh livery. This offered a first look at some of the understated changes produced by the revised regulations, along with points of convergence in the second year of the ground effect rules
The pioneering F1 car that preceded Lotus’s terminal decline
In the hands of Ayrton Senna the actively suspended 99T would be the last F1 race-winning Lotus but, as STUART CODLING reveals, it was a complicated machine that caused more problems than it solved
How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1
Formula 1’s transformation into a global sport meant the gradual extinction for a small team determined to stay true to its low-budget roots. But Tyrrell would eventually be reborn as a world-beating outfit again, explains MAURICE HAMILTON, albeit in different colours…
Assessing Hamilton's remarkable decade as a Mercedes F1 driver
Many doubted Lewis Hamilton’s move from McLaren to Mercedes for the 2013 Formula 1 season. But the journey he’s been on since has taken the Briton to new heights - and to a further six world championship titles
Why new look Haas is a litmus test for Formula 1’s new era
OPINION: With teams outside the top three having struggled in Formula 1 in recent seasons, the rules changes introduced in 2022 should have more of an impact this season. How well Haas does, as the poster child for the kind of team that F1 wanted to be able to challenge at the front, is crucial
The Mercedes F1 pressure changes under 10 years of Toto Wolff
OPINION: Although the central building blocks for Mercedes’ recent, long-lasting Formula 1 success were installed before he joined the team, Toto Wolff has been instrumental in ensuring it maximised its finally-realised potential after years of underachievement. The 10-year anniversary of Wolff joining Mercedes marks the perfect time to assess his work
The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
Alpine’s signing of Pierre Gasly alongside Esteban Ocon revives memories of a famous all-French line-up, albeit in the red of Ferrari, for BEN EDWARDS. Can the former AlphaTauri man's arrival help the French team on its path back to winning ways in a tribute act to the Prancing Horse's title-winning 1983?
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.