2025 McLaren F1 Team

[aMessageToCharlie]

It would be a sensible thing to do, and PIA would absolutely do it but to his own detriment, cementing himself as a #2 driver. A Verstappen, Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso, Rosberg, Schumacher, etc, etc, would never ever had played the team game like he did. Pretty ironic after everyone was expecting Webber's one job to be saving PIA from facing the same destiny he did.
But at this point it's already too late to change course.

[McL-H]

Piastri will be crowning himself WDC on Sunday.

[SilviuAgo]

One of my worries was that we could end up in a scenario where Oscar has to give away a victory to ensure a McLaren WDC. This seemed like only scenario where I could see Oscar refusing to slow down. How can you ask a guy to give up on a victory. Luckily that is not possible. Let's go guys, one of you has to win!

But if it ends up being VER in P1 and PIA in P2 with NOR in P4 I think that sensible and normal thing to do would be for PIA to slow down on the last lap.

Still not sure how I feel about it. I know Red Bull would swap in a heartbeat (probably all 3 drivers) but still it would feel kind of cheap. I know Red Bull fans will be coming here and talking how Oscar shouldn't swap, knowing full well that they would swap.

I think this is the worst case scenario for McLaren team orders, to have Oscar P1 and Lando P4, with Max in P2. At this order, Max will be champion. And to ask Oscar to give up not only to a win but even a place on the podium, will be embarrassing for all McLaren staff.
Cause in my opinion this discussion about team orders is only for Oscar to support Lando, because I do not see how is possible vice-versa, a scenario where Lando to play in Oscar favor.

[FittingMechanics]

No, Lando is champion in that case.

P4 is 12 points, 12+12 is 24 and VER gets only 18 with a P2.

If Oscar wins he is ahead of Verstappen and then it comes down to how far back is Norris.

So any McLaren victory guarantees a WDC for McLaren.

[SilviuAgo]

No, Lando is champion in that case.

P4 is 12 points, 12+12 is 24 and VER gets only 18 with a P2.

If Oscar wins he is ahead of Verstappen and then it comes down to how far back is Norris.

So any McLaren victory guarantees a WDC for McLaren.

You're right… there’s so much math and so many scenarios these days. But it was funny to see the interview with Leclerc after Qatar, where he said that during the race he was also doing some math regarding the WDC.

[TimW]

An interesting scenario arises when we end with Norris running first, Piastri second and Verstappen 3rd. Will they ask Norris to move over, and give up the win (on his WDC race), to let Piastri snatch 2nd in the WDC from Verstappen?

[Raleigh]

No, Lando is champion in that case.

P4 is 12 points, 12+12 is 24 and VER gets only 18 with a P2.

If Oscar wins he is ahead of Verstappen and then it comes down to how far back is Norris.

So any McLaren victory guarantees a WDC for McLaren.

Good summary. Oscar is free to go for victory in all cases.

The only cause for team orders is if Oscar is P2 or P3 with Max P1 and Lando P4, in which case I believe Oscar will give up places on the last lap for the sake of the team.

[aMessageToCharlie]

An interesting scenario arises when we end with Norris running first, Piastri second and Verstappen 3rd. Will they ask Norris to move over, and give up the win (on his WDC race), to let Piastri snatch 2nd in the WDC from Verstappen?

No way. Nobody cares about 2nd anyways, it's the first loser.

[FittingMechanics]

An interesting scenario arises when we end with Norris running first, Piastri second and Verstappen 3rd. Will they ask Norris to move over, and give up the win (on his WDC race), to let Piastri snatch 2nd in the WDC from Verstappen?

No way. Nobody cares about 2nd anyways, it's the first loser.

Yeah I don't think P2 in championship would warrant a move over.

Maybe Norris slows down for a photofinish 1-2, that would be a cool way to finish and is only way I see Norris slowing down if he is P1.

[SilviuAgo]

"New livery" for Abu Dhabi:









And black overalls:

source: McLaren, Zak Brown, Lucho Yoma

[Badger]

Papaya this, papaya that, papaya everything. If they somehow lose come Sunday that word will become so toxic that they might have to erase it from the English dictionary.

[kc_f1]

Papaya this, papaya that, papaya everything. If they somehow lose come Sunday that word will become so toxic that they might have to erase it from the English dictionary.

Well, don’t think so. All things said and done it has been two amazing years. An amazing turn around story...from dead last to double champions. The team has given the fans great memories this year. Even if they mess up the WDC at the end... It's not the end of the world.

[Macklaren]

Papaya this, papaya that, papaya everything. If they somehow lose come Sunday that word will become so toxic that they might have to erase it from the English dictionary.

Well, don’t think so. All things said and done it has been two amazing years. An amazing turn around story...from dead last to double champions. The team has given the fans great memories this year. Even if they mess up the WDC at the end... It's not the end of the world.

Yes I agree. I will be very sad at the execution in the last 3 races but it will have nothing to do with Papaya Rules, which I'm still very proud of at this team

[venkyhere]

Well, don’t think so. All things said and done it has been two amazing years. An amazing turn around story...from dead last to double champions. The team has given the fans great memories this year. Even if they mess up the WDC at the end... It's not the end of the world.

Thank you for saying that. I was waiting for this sentence. Yes, it would be a shame to win the WCC by a gargantuan margin, but not the WDC (a highly unlikely outcome, because as far as I am concerned, Lando is WDC easily this weekend) ; just that the drivers will need a lot of consolation. Regardless whether a McLaren driver is WDC or not, some people in race operations need to fired and the guy (from Redbull) needs to come in and take charge ; because that's how they fixed their car design - by hiring veterans from other teams. It's a people business, ultimately, even if it's made out to be about cars and drivers.

[f1isgood]

Well, don’t think so. All things said and done it has been two amazing years. An amazing turn around story...from dead last to double champions. The team has given the fans great memories this year. Even if they mess up the WDC at the end... It's not the end of the world.

Thank you for saying that. I was waiting for this sentence. Yes, it would be a shame to win the WCC by a gargantuan margin, but not the WDC (a highly unlikely outcome, because as far as I am concerned, Lando is WDC easily this weekend) ; just that the drivers will need a lot of consolation. Regardless whether a McLaren driver is WDC or not, some people in race operations need to fired and the guy (from Redbull) needs to come in and take charge ; because that's how they fixed their car design - by hiring veterans from other teams. It's a people business, ultimately, even if it's made out to be about cars and drivers.

That is simply false. McLaren became fast in 2023 and simply had normal development unlike Red Bull whose car failed to work in 2024 due to many things we don't know. They got Rob Marshall in 2024, not earlier.

McLaren also sorted out their suspension from the beginning of this era as Farnborough pointed out in the Ferrari thread when Key was head. They had the right geometry at the front and rear and never moved away. The issue McLaren had till middle of 2023 was potentially with the floor - they simply weren't producing enough downforce till then but the car had all the right fundamentals.