They have embraced a design philosophy with their 2013 car that is quite different to last year, in terms of the front suspension. I am not an engineer, but it can only be a matter of understanding that interaction between the mechanical platform of the car and the aerodynamics, which is so crucial in terms of providing feedback for the driver and giving him confidence.
True, McLaren have fallen some way short of their desired target: namely, to deliver what was achieved by Kimi Raikkonen and Lotus in Melbourne on Sunday. They would have settled for a spot on the podium, but they did not look like they were anywhere close to that either, given this latest performance.
They will make whatever improvements they can between now and the Malaysian Grand Prix, and the mere fact that Sepang is such a different circuit might just start to unleash some potential in the car that we could not see around the temporary track in Melbourne.
It was still a very solid weekend for Jenson Button – not surprisingly, as he is a quality driver – and it was an assured start for Sergio Pérez, who, despite possessing a couple of years' worth of F1 experience, faces a very different test in competing for a team of McLaren’s ambition.
Over the next three races in Malaysia, China and Bahrain, they need to start understanding what the problem is. If it is a fundamental issue, then they need to make sure, come the Spanish Grand Prix in May, that they have the requisite parts to maximise the potential. The general rule is that by the fifth race, when the teams come to Europe, you start to see the true pecking order emerging.
For a quarter of the season McLaren could find themselves scrapping for the minor points, simply due to the distances involved, and because teams cannot react as quickly as they might do closer to home.
You cannot escape the fact that there is pressure upon Martin Whitmarsh as team principal, for in the end, the captain of the ship is responsible for its navigation.
Ultimately, Martin is accountable in the same way that the technical director and the driver is. But F1 is not a sport where people shy away from responsibility. It is one of the best businesses for accountability that I have ever come across. Any evidence of a lack of commitment, lack of focus, or an inability to deliver consistently, is immediately addressed. Failure is not an option.
What the shareholders or what the McLaren board will do at any given point is to ask: “What was the reason for that success or failure?” You do not win by accident any more than you lose by accident.
I worked at McLaren under Ron Dennis rather than Martin, and Ron always used to say: “I don’t design the car.” Instead he would give the people the right power, the right salaries, the right environment. I would imagine that Ron has passed on the same message and that Martin is using those very words, trying to bring people together. I am not aware of any major headhunting recently, but I am aware of certain people leaving, not least Lewis Hamilton and Paddy Lowe on the technical side. There will be question marks, but I still do not feel you can shine the spotlight on one individual.
How McLaren must wish they were in Lotus’s position this week. Lotus have built a very well-designed, well-engineered car, and Kimi is building upon the remarkable consistency that he achieved last year. He showed in Australia that he had hit the ground running, that he was sharp and focused, that he knew exactly what the strategy was. He is an exceptional driver and he produced a masterclass in disciplining the machine below him. It was an exhibition of world-class driving. Having the experience of handling these cars for quite some years, I appreciate the demands he had to take on to achieve that victory.
What we can say about Lewis Hamilton, too, is that once Mercedes find the right track temperature for their particular car, then he is going to be right in the mix. He fell away in Australia because the team could not execute the tyre plan properly - they wanted to do two stops but did not quite manage it.
But, Hamilton fans, hold your breath. It will not be long before he is hunting for a podium, perhaps even at the next grand prix.