2025 McLaren F1 Team

[mwillems]

Wha drivers say in the media, driven highly by PR could very well be a different picture to what gets painted for the world to see.

Post race interviews are generally PR fluff. Not to be taken that seriously

In race communications are usually heat of the moment spouting, usually also not to be taken seriously

Its easy to think that if Oscar had genuine concerns he would not be so unequivocal about the support and equal treatment.

He went out of his way to make that clear.

[mwillems]

Wha drivers say in the media, driven highly by PR could very well be a different picture to what gets painted for the world to see.

It may be, but you often get to read between the lines.

If a driver goes to lengths to ensure there can be no misinterpretation then it stops being just PR.

[Ben1980]

Wha drivers say in the media, driven highly by PR could very well be a different picture to what gets painted for the world to see.

Post race interviews are generally PR fluff. Not to be taken that seriously

In race communications are usually heat of the moment spouting, usually also not to be taken seriously

Its easy to think that if Oscar had genuine concerns he would not be so unequivocal about the support and equal treatment.

He went out of his way to make that clear.

100%

While I think he seems like a really decent guy, same as Lando and both credits to the team. If things were as bad as some fans seem to think or imply, he wouldnt be trotting out the platitudes. I also think his interactions with Lando are genuine. There seems no real hard feelings.

I font doubt that 2 highly driven mid 20year olds will clash but they will likely also share skincare regimes!

[PikeStance]

It was always going to come to.this and the team did a good job of managing it up to this point so the tensions didn't bubble up earlier.

But its past the point of no return and I dont think this could ever have been avoided. Its the biggest prize that the two drivers have spent nearly 2 decades working towards.

And there's zero guarantee that either driver will ever get this opportunity again.

It's time for both drivers to rip up the social contract and stop with the 'happy teammates' facade. It's gonna cause a bunch of pain and drama, but drivers aren't here for the teams and the camaraderie at the end of the day, they're here for themselves and the F1 title is basically what every one of these guys grew up dreaming of and aiming for.

And Piastri has so much justification for feeling aggrieved at this point. So no, Mclaren did not do a good job managing things up til now. He's constantly gotten the short end of the stick and probably doesn't feel half as welcome and supported in the team as a WDC leader probably should.

The drivers are nothing without the team. It is the team that invests capital into the sport. It is the team that looks for the best and brightest to be technicians, designers, and engineers for the team. It is the team that tries to get the best drivers. The drivers are literally the tip of the iceberg. It is not as though drivers are sprinters/long-distance runners. They require a lot of people to be remotely successful.

It is also in the best interest to support their drivers' success. Their success is the team's success. I don't think a single decision was made to "aggrieve" anyone. Funny, how only fans or a specific driver even see that crap.

[rayden]

Palou: "Zak told me it was not his decision to hire Oscar. He said it was the decision of the team manager Andreas Seidl"

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/arti ... d-piastri/

[Ben1980]

Palou: "Zak told me it was not his decision to hire Oscar. He said it was the decision of the team manager Andreas Seidl"

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/arti ... d-piastri/

Which doesnt seem out of the ordinary does it?

Zak obviously approved it though.

Ive already seen people using this in there Oscar piastri is being badly treated claims.

[FittingMechanics]

While McLaren may have closed his chances by signing Piastri, it still doesn't mean he can just break the contract.

I can't feel for Palou here. First he had the issue that CGR was not willing to let him go for 2023, it may have been quite different if he signed for 2023. McLaren would then have a clear pathway for Palou into F1, he can drive in 2023 in Indycar with a lot of F1 testing and then at the end of 2023 Ricciardo is out of contract and Palou moves into McLaren in 2024.

Piastri stays with Renault and McLaren saves a lot of money by not having to pay off Ricciardo.

I'd love to see Palou in McLaren as he is really destroying the field in IndyCar. While I do have some reservations about quality of that field it is still very impressive.

[GrizzleBoy]

I wouldnt care about Lando hitting Oscar and not getting any kind of stick whatsoever from the team, if Oscar hadn't got a radio warning for NOT touching Lando at all in Austria.

[Emag]

They got a little too involved honestly, it's too late to "save face" now. Last year it was understandable because Oscar was nowhere near Lando while Lando had a shimmer of hope for a title. This year, they shouldn't have gotten involved at all. The warnings are fine imo, but at least be equal to both drivers (Lando didn't even get a "scolding" radio message for bumping tires with his teammates, while Oscar has gotten multiple this season for *almost touching Lando. Sometimes even pre-emptive).

The Monza bullshit, as I said back when it happened, opened a can of worms for them. And it was all because they pit Oscar first while trying a pointless strategy of going unnecessarily long on the mediums. Remember, Lando had a safe cushion to Oscar had they pit "normally", but he then lost a heap of time while struggling with old tires (probably mistakes). Then they had to pull off those theatrics to reverse a stupid decision and interfere in the WDC battle. Not a good look at all.

[FittingMechanics]

I wouldnt care about Lando hitting Oscar and not getting any kind of stick whatsoever from the team, if Oscar hadn't got a radio warning for NOT touching Lando at all in Austria.

I mean these situations are quite different.

In Singapore it was the start, there was one overtake attempt by Norris with one contact. After that he was through. Why would they need to warn him not to touch him again?

In Austria Piastri was attacking, on multiple laps, on one lap he had a massive lockup that almost caused them both to DNF. Then Piastris engineer reminded him not to crash into each other. He was reminded because he was still trying to overtake Norris so there was still a chance of pushing it too far.

[SilviuAgo]

I wouldnt care about Lando hitting Oscar and not getting any kind of stick whatsoever from the team, if Oscar hadn't got a radio warning for NOT touching Lando at all in Austria.

I mean these situations are quite different.

In Singapore it was the start, there was one overtake attempt by Norris with one contact. After that he was through. Why would they need to warn him not to touch him again?

In Austria Piastri was attacking, on multiple laps, on one lap he had a massive lockup that almost caused them both to DNF. Then Piastris engineer reminded him not to crash into each other. He was reminded because he was still trying to overtake Norris so there was still a chance of pushing it too far.

Agree with this. Singapore vs Austria or Hungary are not the same. Lando maybe estimated wrong Max speed through that corner and unfortunately Oscar was right near him. In Austria or Hungary Oscar was chasing Lando and almost hit with those big lockups in T4 (Spielberg) and T1 (Hungaroring).
Of course there are some controversial moments like Lando mistake in Canada or the swap in Monza, but all this "Lando vs Oscar" saga and the hate inside the McLaren fans is starting to look pathetic. I don't want to think about it but maybe was better if we had "Lando Nowins" and Oscar fighting for P18 in an Alpine. Seems people quickly forget where this team was couple of seasons and they should enjoy all this moments cause maybe next back-to-back McLaren champions will come over another 30 years when Lando and Oscar will be just two guys that once drove for McLaren.

[Farnborough]

I wouldnt care about Lando hitting Oscar and not getting any kind of stick whatsoever from the team, if Oscar hadn't got a radio warning for NOT touching Lando at all in Austria.

I mean these situations are quite different.

In Singapore it was the start, there was one overtake attempt by Norris with one contact. After that he was through. Why would they need to warn him not to touch him again?

In Austria Piastri was attacking, on multiple laps, on one lap he had a massive lockup that almost caused them both to DNF. Then Piastris engineer reminded him not to crash into each other. He was reminded because he was still trying to overtake Norris so there was still a chance of pushing it too far.

Agree with this. Singapore vs Austria or Hungary are not the same. Lando maybe estimated wrong Max speed through that corner and unfortunately Oscar was right near him. In Austria or Hungary Oscar was chasing Lando and almost hit with those big lockups in T4 (Spielberg) and T1 (Hungaroring).
Of course there are some controversial moments like Lando mistake in Canada or the swap in Monza, but all this "Lando vs Oscar" saga and the hate inside the McLaren fans is starting to look pathetic. I don't want to think about it but maybe was better if we had "Lando Nowins" and Oscar fighting for P18 in an Alpine. Seems people quickly forget where this team was couple of seasons and they should enjoy all this moments cause maybe next back-to-back McLaren champions will come over another 30 years when Lando and Oscar will be just two guys that once drove for McLaren.

Oscar was completely intending to be right near Lando to compromise LN entry to apex (making it very acute) this is what I'd expect a racing driver to do. Having chosen a line initially, Oscar found Lando taking advantage of the vacant space on the outside of 2nd corner .... again, absolutely what a racing driver should be expected to do IF free to race.
Oscar effectively loosing position to Lando between 2 & 3 apex .... was always going to be on the back foot through turn 3 as he'd lost that corner with Lando FULLY alongside. There's alway going to be risk in "hanging" it that close around the outside.
Everyone on this thread ... EVERYONE ....would be praising Lando's move if it had been enacted by OP or LN over Verstappen in exactly the same place.

We expect these two team mates to race, then opinion goes against either one when they do. Double standards ?

All the representation of fault here is nonsense, it's going to get stickier than this, all intra team battle for the WDC will get there. There's really nowhere to hide from here on in.

I don't favour either ..... but I do want to see them race for it.

That corner sequence has been designed exactly to bring contention, and particularly at the start, that's no accident but providing contention when there's not much chance to overtake another competitor .... especially in the same chassis for equivalent potential.

Someone on here should try and answer the ultimate question here "just who is going to make the decision in Papaya rules land over which driver takes the championship" ? If its that easy, could it be done. Can anyone imagine the "feedback" that person would be in for out in this voracious world of social commentary ?

Nobody is going to be happy to take a loss against their teammates. There's going to be one big sad face at season's end ... racing is the only way to decide that.

All the prissy rhetoric and bleeding heart views dispensed have no real value here, its the big time, time to stand up and be counted. They'll all be pissed though if Verstappen were to take it, that's for sure.

[SilviuAgo]

I mean these situations are quite different.

In Singapore it was the start, there was one overtake attempt by Norris with one contact. After that he was through. Why would they need to warn him not to touch him again?

In Austria Piastri was attacking, on multiple laps, on one lap he had a massive lockup that almost caused them both to DNF. Then Piastris engineer reminded him not to crash into each other. He was reminded because he was still trying to overtake Norris so there was still a chance of pushing it too far.

Agree with this. Singapore vs Austria or Hungary are not the same. Lando maybe estimated wrong Max speed through that corner and unfortunately Oscar was right near him. In Austria or Hungary Oscar was chasing Lando and almost hit with those big lockups in T4 (Spielberg) and T1 (Hungaroring).
Of course there are some controversial moments like Lando mistake in Canada or the swap in Monza, but all this "Lando vs Oscar" saga and the hate inside the McLaren fans is starting to look pathetic. I don't want to think about it but maybe was better if we had "Lando Nowins" and Oscar fighting for P18 in an Alpine. Seems people quickly forget where this team was couple of seasons and they should enjoy all this moments cause maybe next back-to-back McLaren champions will come over another 30 years when Lando and Oscar will be just two guys that once drove for McLaren.

Oscar was completely intending to be right near Lando to compromise LN entry to apex (making it very acute) this is what I'd expect a racing driver to do. Having chosen a line initially, Oscar found Lando taking advantage of the vacant space on the outside of 2nd corner .... again, absolutely what a racing driver should be expected to do IF free to race.
Oscar effectively loosing position to Lando between 2 & 3 apex .... was always going to be on the back foot through turn 3 as he'd lost that corner with Lando FULLY alongside. There's alway going to be risk in "hanging" it that close around the outside.
Everyone on this thread ... EVERYONE ....would be praising Lando's move if it had been enacted by OP or LN over Verstappen in exactly the same place.

We expect these two team mates to race, then opinion goes against either one when they do. Double standards ?

All the representation of fault here is nonsense, it's going to get stickier than this, all intra team battle for the WDC will get there. There's really nowhere to hide from here on in.

I don't favour either ..... but I do want to see them race for it.

That corner sequence has been designed exactly to bring contention, and particularly at the start, that's no accident but providing contention when there's not much chance to overtake another competitor .... especially in the same chassis for equivalent potential.

Someone on here should try and answer the ultimate question here "just who is going to make the decision in Papaya rules land over which driver takes the championship" ? If its that easy, could it be done. Can anyone imagine the "feedback" that person would be in for out in this voracious world of social commentary ?

Nobody is going to be happy to take a loss against their teammates. There's going to be one big sad face at season's end ... racing is the only way to decide that.

All the prissy rhetoric and bleeding heart views dispensed have no real value here, its the big time, time to stand up and be counted. They'll all be pissed though if Verstappen were to take it, that's for sure.

I didn't say that Oscar shouldn't have been there, I said was a sum of factors that brought this never ending discussion over what happened in that corner. So to be more clear Lando never intended to hit Oscar. As Oscar never intended to hit Lando in Austria or Hungary.
Contrary to what the media and some DTS fans are trying to make a drama, until now, Lando and Oscar drove fairly and gave enough space (I remember now the races in Imola, in Belgium). And also the races from Austria, Canada and Hungary should be remembered for tens of laps of amazing fight not for one moment that play in favor of "Lando's team" or "Oscar's team".
And yes, if they lose this to Max, that will be something to remember. As we all remember what happened in 2007.

[mwillems]

It comes back to what I said a few pages back. Lando was not showing aggression to Oscar, but to the space. Oscar was the driver showing aggression to Lando and totally closed his space down.

It's totally fair racing but comes with risks. Lando got lucky that Oscar paid the price for his mistake but Oscar was also pressuring him into that mistake, it was fair racing.

Oscar's reaction is to be fully expected at this point in the year. If we didn't have team orders this year would Oscar accept what Lando did and not complain? Of course he would. he'd be onto the team radio banging on about it because everyone knows you don't hit the other car and with everything at stake, yeah he's going to feel the pressure.

It's the pointy end of the championship with a WDC and tensions are high, if you look back at previous intra team rivalries, this has all been really mild so far in comparison.

I don't expect it to stay that way though and whilst I was disappointed that Oscar lost out for Lando's mistake, I was also happy to see Lando pushing it and keeping it just within the bounds of being acceptable. That's good racing. Oscar needs to just get his head down and do the same, and I'm sure he will.

Lando still needs to sort out his Saturday, because he can't just rely on a few moments on the Sunday. I wonder if this ultimate pressure now will actually help him find that little bit extra? Like when you're brain just no longer has time to worry about things and suddenly you find the zone.

Edit: This is just a general post.

[Farnborough]

Apologies SilviuAgo as I didn't set out to criticism of your post .... but did use it as platform to amplify the scenario.

I really look forward to a tough competition between these two drivers as the can truly establish their worth in this contest.

I hold no illusion that it will most certainly have contentious points coming in the races run out to the end and ultimately the driver's championship. It would be good if it makes the season memorable too.