2025 McLaren F1 Team

[FittingMechanics]

Norris doesn't need to do anything crazy in the sprint. Let's see how start goes, maybe he can get Russell and then just drive to the end. That would be great.

I'm quite happy with the situation so far. While Red Bull is not amazing (they can always turn it around), the key thing is that McLaren is in the mix. It shouldn't be a catastrophic weekend that would open up Norris to a challenge by Max.

I would still much prefer if we seal the McLaren WDC this weekend (who wouldn't) but even finishing with a large points advantage for Abu Dhabi would be fine. I just don't want any kind of sub 15 gap.

[De Wet]

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/ghost ... 4297248020


PIA vs RUS lap comparison.

[Darth-Piekus]

All Norris needs to do is finish in front of Max. Either 2nd or 3rd. Just finish in front. Let Piastri win the sprint. Don't take any more risks.

[ispano6]

Looking back at the video footage of the race, I don't buy the "porpoising" reasoning. There is no porpoising, just dragging the floor on the ground in a controlled and non-oscillating manner. It looks like a grand slam infringement of running the car too low in attempt to gain an advantage. The verdict is absolutely fair and sound. No rule change needed. Nothing to do with power units being swapped and pitlane starts.

I don't really want to get into the PU talks because that's a separate debate that's being milked for no reason IMO, but McLaren definitely had abnormal bouncing in the race. Might have seemed stable from T-Cam, but on the visor cam it was just horrible. Even Ferrari in 2022 wasn't as bad :

Nope, it looked stable and consistent in the way it dragged the floor and sparked across the finish line, from the world feed. Every car has bouncing from the onboards. McLaren simply has a softer suspension that ALLOWS for it to bounce and hence bottom out and INDUCES porpoising. It don't happen on it's own. It's the same for everyone, and McLaren simply paid the price for the advantageous soft suspension being too bouncy at full race pace. Produce too much downforce and drag the floor on the ground, you hit a bump, you've caused the porpoising on your own. It's not the ground's fault. There's nothing abnormal about it all. Miami race was exactly the same. It was a choice and turned out to be a blunder. Zach trying to convince the FIA that the penalty is draconian is real rich. Just eat some humble pie and swallow it.

[Shader]

So RedBull decided to win the championship behind a table.... not surprised.

Such comments only drive neutral fans towards the Verstappen camp.

Was I supposed to care? Don't care about your or any camp. I have my camp and if you don't feel comfortable by reading this thread, no one is forcing you. The forum is wide open for range of other "camps" and discussions.

[Emag]

Looking back at the video footage of the race, I don't buy the "porpoising" reasoning. There is no porpoising, just dragging the floor on the ground in a controlled and non-oscillating manner. It looks like a grand slam infringement of running the car too low in attempt to gain an advantage. The verdict is absolutely fair and sound. No rule change needed. Nothing to do with power units being swapped and pitlane starts.

I don't really want to get into the PU talks because that's a separate debate that's being milked for no reason IMO, but McLaren definitely had abnormal bouncing in the race. Might have seemed stable from T-Cam, but on the visor cam it was just horrible. Even Ferrari in 2022 wasn't as bad :

Nope, it looked stable and consistent in the way it dragged the floor and sparked across the finish line, from the world feed. Every car has bouncing from the onboards. McLaren simply has a softer suspension that ALLOWS for it to bounce and hence bottom out and INDUCES porpoising. It don't happen on it's own. It's the same for everyone, and McLaren simply paid the price for the advantageous soft suspension being too bouncy at full race pace. Produce too much downforce and drag the floor on the ground, you hit a bump, you've caused the porpoising on your own. It's not the ground's fault. There's nothing abnormal about it all. Miami race was exactly the same. It was a choice and turned out to be a blunder. Zach trying to convince the FIA that the penalty is draconian is real rich. Just eat some humble pie and swallow it.

Obvioisly it was a mistake, nobody is arguing that. He was complaining about the severity of the penalty, and the possibility to change it going forward. A right all teams have.

And no, it wasn’t the same as in Miami. If it was the same as in Miami they wouldn’t have gotten disqualified

[Darth-Piekus]

At the end of the day nothing may matter if the Mclaren boys get the result they want. It's sprint race time. Let's do an uneventful race and both Mclaren boys get more points than their main rival.

[FittingMechanics]

Good result. Congratulations to Oscar for winning three Qatar sprints in a row.

Last lap by Oscar looked strong, he seemed to have pace in hand.

Max doesn't look that bad, if he qualifies ahead he can surely stay ahead. Very important to qualify and start better than him.

[Darth-Piekus]

Good sprint result from both. Our boys must now focus on beating Verstappen on qualifying and then finish the race and the title battle with an 1-2.

[Ben1980]

At the kids christmas fair. Sprint sounds dull as anything.

But ticked off, mo dramas.

[wickedz50]

Good result. Congratulations to Oscar for winning three Qatar sprints in a row.

Last lap by Oscar looked strong, he seemed to have pace in hand.

Max doesn't look that bad, if he qualifies ahead he can surely stay ahead. Very important to qualify and start better than him.

There is no guarantee that beating Max in qualy will result in finishing ahead, the kind of starts Max makes its either give the place or crash, this will be extremely tight and the best thing will be to play the waiting game, Oscar has to be up there for pole of P2 and challenge Max at start rather risking it with Lando.
Play the waiting game, target when there is a clear opportunity and when you have that clear edge, any unnecessary risk will be very extremely dangerous.
Losing 7 points here to Max for P2 should be fine, dont go all in thinking you have 3 aces in hand, Max may have a full house hand. Have to be cautious, the guy to take the fight and risk should be Oscar.

[Darth-Piekus]

It's a pity that our drivers lost 60 points each from events outside their control. The WDC should have been over a few races by now.

[basti313]

Wow, they just rolled the car into the garage and Joe Bauer is already next to it....Andrea was pulled from the interviews to join him....nerves are open.

[Avocado]

A good race, no drama and with a positive outcome. For the sake of the championship, I want Piastri to win tomorrow, and Lando is as far back as possible, but still ahead of Max. Let the fun begin.

nerves are open.

Oh please, calm down.

[SilviuAgo]

A good race, no drama and with a positive outcome. For the sake of the championship, I want Piastri to win tomorrow, and Lando is as far back as possible, but still ahead of Max. Let the fun begin.

nerves are open.

Oh please, calm down.

Every McLaren fan with his wish I want tomorrow Lando to win and finish this. Other fans, like Max's, want another Vegas...so God will be very busy for tonigh and tomorrow