2025 McLaren F1 Team

[FittingMechanics]

Big question now, if Max is leading, a Oscar is third and Lando fourth, do McLaren ask Oscar to swap positions?

Would Oscar comply is another matter. I think he does, because he's the bigger man and would basically lose any trust between himself and the team if he doesn't, but I know others will disagree.

I think Oscar would. But I think Oscar would likely try change down Max and only yield very late if he couldn't get it done too to make them sweat

If on the last lap Oscar slowing down lets Lando win the WDC, I hope that Oscar knows it's smart to do that. Imagine the shitshow though, I hope it doesn't happen.

Even though Red Bull would switch in a heartbeat.

[FittingMechanics]

Has Mclaren hired a Ferrari strategist that we are not aware of ?

They are still waiting on Will Courtenay from Red Bull.

[Watto]

Simply put, the instruction should have been either to pit or at least to follow max, with the pit ready for both drivers anyway in case either made their own call.

As i said yesterday, I have a feeling that they might have perceived a risk to Lando release in the pit lane as others piled in, and so vetoed both stops.

They may have thought they had the pace to catch Max, and miscalculated, but it's not really the point for me. Oscar would have clearly been 1st and faster than everyone else.

There was no additional risk there.

Yeah, this seems most likely but I'm not sure that they thought they have pace to catch Verstappen, I think they expected many more to stay out, if Verstappen was in a DRS train with 7 midfield cars the outcome could be very different.

Another huge issue was that hard was a good race tire, better than medium for 25 laps. Not sure how they couldn't see that as they prefered strategy before the weekend was a one stopper (so surely a long stint on a hard). Verstappen and the rest of the field effectively ran a one stopper against McLaren on a two stopper. So by using a medium in the middle stint they failed to increase the gaps to the field and exposed them to ANT/SAI.

It's just a huge mistake all around and to cap it off, they pitted Norris out of the way for Verstappen. Piastri winning would be better for Norris and Piastri. I know they may have been worried about Antonelli and Sainz but I think they made a mistake by not defending until Max overtakes.

Yeah I think they were expecting a few at least not to pit. Even 3-4 cars might have been enough to hold Max up.


Stella seemed to indicate they were hoping for another safety car too which I think is a very dangerous game to play and...well so it happens they lost out. Gave up a pretty simple 1-2 - maybe Max with his pace could have undercut Lando. But Oscar was in a world of his in the race.

[McL-H]

Has Mclaren hired Ferrari strategists that we are not aware of ?

I was thinking the same thing

[Watto]

Big question now, if Max is leading, a Oscar is third and Lando fourth, do McLaren ask Oscar to swap positions?

Would Oscar comply is another matter. I think he does, because he's the bigger man and would basically lose any trust between himself and the team if he doesn't, but I know others will disagree.

I think Oscar would. But I think Oscar would likely try change down Max and only yield very late if he couldn't get it done too to make them sweat

If on the last lap Oscar slowing down lets Lando win the WDC, I hope that Oscar knows it's smart to do that. Imagine the shitshow though, I hope it doesn't happen.

Even though Red Bull would switch in a heartbeat.

I think he would - but I think too. Oscar would do hard for the win if Max was leading incase Lando made a mistake.



I think Lando will finish on the podium anyway and will be WDC - albeit had Kimi not made the mistake and Lando needing to finish 2nd to a Max win on count back I would be far more concerned. That becomes very fine margins still think it happens but ....the smallest or errors by Lando, a bad put stop etc. I wonder if George would let Lando pass and a fellow Britt get the WDC too.

[McL-H]

I feel most sorry for Oscar as he nailed the entire weekend trying to turn the championship around. He had been in a league of his own, doing everything he had to. Many are talking about Lando, but it was Oscar that lost out most yesterday. Realistically his championship is over by no fault of his own.

For Lando I do blame him. He should had followed Max into the pits.

[FittingMechanics]

I think he would - but I think too. Oscar would do hard for the win if Max was leading incase Lando made a mistake.



I think Lando will finish on the podium anyway and will be WDC - albeit had Kimi not made the mistake and Lando needing to finish 2nd to a Max win on count back I would be far more concerned. That becomes very fine margins still think it happens but ....the smallest or errors by Lando, a bad put stop etc. I wonder if George would let Lando pass and a fellow Britt get the WDC too.

I don't think Russell would slow down. Indeed, that mistake by Antonelli could be very consequential.

If McLaren doesn't have a nightmare weekend they surely cannot be slower than two non Max cars. I can see Russell maybe being faster but no one else. If that is accurate, then Norris P3 is doable.

I do think McLaren will have a good weekend in Abu Dhabi and Norris will win the race and the title (like last year). That would be a fitting end to the season.

[venkyhere]

Stella seemed to indicate they were hoping for another safety car too which I think is a very dangerous game to play and...well so it happens they lost out.

That Stella interview - that was pure Sh%%housery. Playing the diplomat, talking about 'learning lessons' etc - pure BS.
ZacBrown was more forthcoming, he plainly said 'we messed up'. So did Norris and so did Piastri. Out of the four of them, Stella was only the guy attempting to 'bring some blame on bad luck'. It was pathetic to watch.

[SilviuAgo]

Big question now, if Max is leading, a Oscar is third and Lando fourth, do McLaren ask Oscar to swap positions?

Would Oscar comply is another matter. I think he does, because he's the bigger man and would basically lose any trust between himself and the team if he doesn't, but I know others will disagree.

Even a better scenario: Max leading with Oscar P2 and Russell P3. Lando on P4. If I were oscar I would let Russell pass and then Lando. That will be a huge blow and his name will be always associated with this title.

Now being more serious, I think will come in Abu Dhabi to what Will said to Lando in Hungary last year: "If you want to win you will need Oscar". So Oscar imo will win AbuDhabi allowing Lando to become world champion with a lower level of stress. My prediction: Oscar, Max, Lando in Abu Dhabi.

[chrisc90]

Lando only effectively needs to be p4 with Oscar p2/3 in order to get the title.

All Oscar has to do is slow down and let Norris past.

Would be quite a taint on his 1st title for Norris though needing his team mate to get him it by dropping positions.

Straight fight to the death would be the best route with neither title contender backing down.

[Watto]

Big question now, if Max is leading, a Oscar is third and Lando fourth, do McLaren ask Oscar to swap positions?

Would Oscar comply is another matter. I think he does, because he's the bigger man and would basically lose any trust between himself and the team if he doesn't, but I know others will disagree.

Even a better scenario: Max leading with Oscar P2 and Russell P3. Lando on P4. If I were oscar I would let Russell pass and then Lando. That will be a huge blow and his name will be always associated with this title.

Now being more serious, I think will come in Abu Dhabi to what Will said to Lando in Hungary last year: "If you want to win you will need Oscar". So Oscar imo will win AbuDhabi allowing Lando to become world champion with a lower level of stress. My prediction: Oscar, Max, Lando in Abu Dhabi.

Yeah I could see that and think Oscar would comply but Lando 4th, Oscar I think would chase Max down just incase say Lando made an error and dropped to 6th - I don't think it happens but is Lando pushes too hard trying to get 3rd and makes an error It would be a last lap kinda thing.

[Skywalker12]

Also if Lando wins it with P3 and Max wins the race, he will be champion with less wins then the runner up.

[Ben1980]

Still thinking about this!

I don't buy the, they did it to protect Lando lines.

I just think they were ridiculously too rigid with thinking.

I can understand the cautious with Oscar, maybe but with Lando it was obvious to follow Max.

[Ben1980]

Also if Lando wins it with P3 and Max wins the race, he will be champion with less wins then the runner up.

But thats just because the runner up has had awful team mates.

[F1NAC]

I feel most sorry for Oscar as he nailed the entire weekend trying to turn the championship around. He had been in a league of his own, doing everything he had to. Many are talking about Lando, but it was Oscar that lost out most yesterday. Realistically his championship is over by no fault of his own.

For Lando I do blame him. He should had followed Max into the pits.

Don’t get me wrong, i don’t want to defend this team in any way, but you can’t also ignore that dip in form after zandvoort.. if he loses the title it is mostly because of lack of his form in 2nd half. From 104+ to - 6 ( correct me if I’m wrong) behind Verstappen.

What are we talking about?

The only think that separates him from Norris that he has more that killer instinct when needed. But he will regret his performance in 2nd half