2025 McLaren F1 Team

[Darth-Piekus]

Tomorrow Norris starts next to Verstappen. He will definitely try to cover up Lando so what Lando has to do is keep that 2nd place and then use his tyre temperature handling to get him in the race. All Oscar has to do is come back 3rd at worst to minimize his losses.

It's time for Norris to show if he still has what it takes to gain the championship. One last chance.

[SilviuAgo]

Tomorrow Norris starts next to Verstappen. He will definitely try to cover up Lando so what Lando has to do is keep that 2nd place and then use his tyre temperature handling to get him in the race. All Oscar has to do is come back 3rd at worst to minimize his losses.

It's time for Norris to show if he still has what it takes to gain the championship. One last chance.

That was the plan also for the Sprint race, but...repercussion
We'll see tomorrow what the gods of racing have for us.

[Darth-Piekus]

At least Norris has the chance tomorrow to win the race by using Mclaren's better tyre temperature, gain 7 more points than Max and possibly take the lead in the WDC.

Its a chance though as it will depend on how Red Bull handles their tyre.

[Watto]

At least Norris has the chance tomorrow to win the race by using Mclaren's better tyre temperature, gain 7 more points than Max and possibly take the lead in the WDC.

Its a chance though as it will depend on how Red Bull handles their tyre.

Not even sure McLaren still have the tyre temp advantage it has traditionally shown in on hot tracks in qualifying in the last sector, Max was purple in both sprint and main qualifying S3 race distance may be different but the advantage doesn't seem obvious there anymore.

[pantherxxx]

Cota is not really a track that's overheating the tyres. It will be only 28-29 celsius tomorrow, not even 30, and there are plenty of straights to cool down the tíres.

[FittingMechanics]

Bad weekend by Piastri, off by 3-5 tenths from Lando in both qualis which led to being desperate at the start.

Now Lando is P2 next to Verstappen. I hope he has a good launch and goes tough against Verstappen. It is in McLaren (and Lando) interest to be as tough as he can, Max cannot risk a DNF (neither can Lando but Max must have everything go his way).

I hope Norris sees it that way, be tough on Verstappen and either you are ahead or McLaren WDC is almost assured.

I know Verstappen would have no issues doing the same.

[DDopey]

For me the incident yesterday was again a result of papaya rules. Had these not been there, Piastri would have taken the corner without doing the over/under. Now he needed to start thinking about Norris and then began to make a mistake. Without the papaya rules he would have kept his original line.

[Sergej]

Oscar seems a crushed driver since Monza, which again is a result of the amazing papaya rules.

[FittingMechanics]

For me the incident yesterday was again a result of papaya rules. Had these not been there, Piastri would have taken the corner without doing the over/under. Now he needed to start thinking about Norris and then began to make a mistake. Without the papaya rules he would have kept his original line.

Why would that be? I don't see the connection.

[Badger]

Bad weekend by Piastri, off by 3-5 tenths from Lando in both qualis which led to being desperate at the start.

Now Lando is P2 next to Verstappen. I hope he has a good launch and goes tough against Verstappen. It is in McLaren (and Lando) interest to be as tough as he can, Max cannot risk a DNF (neither can Lando but Max must have everything go his way).

I hope Norris sees it that way, be tough on Verstappen and either you are ahead or McLaren WDC is almost assured.

I know Verstappen would have no issues doing the same.

Lando has far more to lose by tangling.

[Mcl_G10]

Important that both cars make it through turn 1 safely tomorrow to at least give themselves a chance of fighting for good points.
Max is well and truly in this championship. His experience gives him every chance of bringing that redbull home ahead of the mclarens in every race from here and its going to get very tight.

This is Landos chance to seize the moment. He needs to win the race, slow max's monentum and really turn the screw on oscar.
Oscar will do really well to get p3.

Tbh I just want the first corner to be over already! Was horrible watching the sprint with no papaya.

[Ben1980]

Oscar should still wrap this up. But yesterday's move was so needless. A 3rd was absolutely fine in a sprint.

If Max wins 6 in a row and 8 of the 12 on the second half of the season, while Piastri wins 2. That's your narrative, its a season of two halves.

[Ben1980]

Oscar seems a crushed driver since Monza, which again is a result of the amazing papaya rules.

You think hes that mentally weak?

[FittingMechanics]

Bad weekend by Piastri, off by 3-5 tenths from Lando in both qualis which led to being desperate at the start.

Now Lando is P2 next to Verstappen. I hope he has a good launch and goes tough against Verstappen. It is in McLaren (and Lando) interest to be as tough as he can, Max cannot risk a DNF (neither can Lando but Max must have everything go his way).

I hope Norris sees it that way, be tough on Verstappen and either you are ahead or McLaren WDC is almost assured.

I know Verstappen would have no issues doing the same.

Lando has far more to lose by tangling.

Not compared to Verstappen. One DNF by Verstappen and WDC chance is gone.

For Lando he would still help McLaren win a WDC, not all is lost.

[_cerber1]

I think the race will be a loss-minimization exercise for us at best; the lack of sprint data could have a significant impact on our race pace. I'll be happy if we break even or don't lose too much.