2025 McLaren F1 Team

[Alo_Fan]

Do they start on hards? Go long? Take away the risk of being backed up.

How can Max back up our guys but at the same time not risk being DRS overtaken and/or beaten once his tires go? If he backs us up in P2 and P3 at best he can be a second ahead and under threat of an undercut.

He is not guaranteed to be faster and this is not Monaco.

He may try something but I really don't see what he can do to get slower cars ahead of McLaren.

If he acts like a SC in sector 3, he can keep the field closely bunched preventing an early pitstop, and if it is made he can in turn pick up the pace while a McLaren is stuck in traffic. He's got nothing to lose by taking a gamble in doing something like that.

[mwillems]

Having a car in front is always bad for us, but maybe better tyre management will be decisive.
https://postimg.cc/G4yqP9j9

If the RB is faster on the straights tomorrow then this might help them if Max chooses to back up when he can.

[FittingMechanics]

Can someone please explain how would this backing up work? How would it benefit Verstappen?

[Ben1980]

Can someone please explain how would this backing up work? How would it benefit Verstappen?

The only thing I can think of is it keeps the gaps closed so pitting isn't easy, and then if timed well will have the Mclarens stuck behind Yuki or another RB stablemate, meaning potential over or under cut.

But, I'm unsure really on how it would work in principle.

[FittingMechanics]

In theory only thing that might be an issue if McLaren has to double stack with Norris behind.

That could be a problem but this race is not Monaco and even if he lost a few positions it shouldn't be catastrophic.

I'm sure they will try and cause chaos but I am just not that convinced Verstappen can engineer this to happen. McLaren is a fast car, with DRS they could lunge at him.

[Badger]

In theory only thing that might be an issue if McLaren has to double stack with Norris behind.

That could be a problem but this race is not Monaco and even if he lost a few positions it shouldn't be catastrophic.

I'm sure they will try and cause chaos but I am just not that convinced Verstappen can engineer this to happen. McLaren is a fast car, with DRS they could lunge at him.

Well no one said it would be easy or even likely that he can engineer it to happen. But if he drives the race like normal the top 3 are probably going to bolt into a huge lead in the first stint and there will be no threats to Lando's podium. By keeping the field close he is introducing volatility and risk for the McLarens. Risks of tangling with cars, risks of making a mistake and losing position, risks of getting undercut etc. The range of potential outcomes increases drastically if the field is tight, and that's what Max needs to have any chance of winning the WDC.

My bet is if Lando is second after the start he will turn up the heat pretty early (by reducing the pace), and then make them sweat it out lap after lap. If Lando tries to overtake he's risking having damage or a puncture or something. The risk profile benefits Verstappen if they battle. If Oscar is the car behind it's slightly different, then Max needs to keep his nose clean, but still keep the pace as slow as possible.

[venkyhere]

It also has to be said that 'backing up the pack in S3' to inorder to deny the Mclarens any 'gap' for them to pit into, is also detrimental for Verstappen as well, because there is no guarantee that :
- He won't accidentally end up giving DRS to the McLarens, because he has to do it over so many laps.
- Mclarens wont be able to overtake midfielder cars, even if they come out into traffic after pitting.
- That Russel / LeClerc will have the tyre life to challenge the McLarens and might be forced to pit before them.
- That having 2M, 1H for himself while the McLarens have 1M, 2H might become a problem in case the deg/graining (back/front) is high and it's a 2-stop race.
- Redbull won't screw up a pitstop, since box duration will become critical, apart from in-laps and out-laps (which are critical anyway where tyre life gets eaten away).

The 'backing up' - It's a mega risky thing to do in a track where overtaking is possible. This is not Monaco. In 2016, what allowed Hamilton to do it was because the Mercedes was leagues ahead of other cars in pace. That's not the case here. Plus the track layout was different. So many variables need to be considered - IMHO it's just easier to simply drive at full pace and not worry so much.

[Mcl_G10]

Can someone please explain how would this backing up work? How would it benefit Verstappen?

Personally, if I were max this is what id do......

1)Keep the field fairly tightly bunched. This will prevent mclaren pitting earlier into clean air and if they do try then max significantly ups the pace ahead of pitting.

2)Deliberately allow George and Charles to undercut into p1 and p2 knowing that when I pit i will be behind them but in a car that CAN overtake them.

3) When mclaren also pit they will be behind me but unable to follow me through as I pass George and charles.

4) I win the race with a couple of cars between me and lando in p4, so therefore win the championship.

[FittingMechanics]

Lando had 2kph lower top speed than Verstappen (who had that tow).

Why do we think McLaren, the car that they call best ever cannot overtake with DRS here?

[mwillems]

As Badger said, a normal race will likely not help Max, so he might invite attacks against the Mclarens, try to harm their pit strategy or invite incidents.

If Norris has to defend more, it raises a small chance it could end up losing places due to damage or whatever.

It's unlikely, but it could result in a 5th title.

[FittingMechanics]

It also has to be said that 'backing up the pack in S3' to inorder to deny the Mclarens any 'gap' for them to pit into, is also detrimental for Verstappen as well, because there is no guarantee that :
- He won't accidentally end up giving DRS to the McLarens, because he has to do it over so many laps.
- Mclarens wont be able to overtake midfielder cars, even if they come out into traffic after pitting.
- That Russel / LeClerc will have the tyre life to challenge the McLarens and might be forced to pit before them.
- That having 2M, 1H for himself while the McLarens have 1M, 2H might become a problem in case the deg/graining (back/front) is high and it's a 2-stop race.
- Redbull won't screw up a pitstop, since box duration will become critical, apart from in-laps and out-laps (which are critical anyway where tyre life gets eaten away).

The 'backing up' - It's a mega risky thing to do in a track where overtaking is possible. This is not Monaco. In 2016, what allowed Hamilton to do it was because the Mercedes was leagues ahead of other cars in pace. That's not the case here. Plus the track layout was different. So many variables need to be considered - IMHO it's just easier to simply drive at full pace and not worry so much.

Surely he cannot slow down McLaren without giving them DRS. The pace difference is not that big.

Maybe he keeps them bunched up to promote tire degradation but that should hurt others as well.

[mwillems]

Lando had 2kph lower top speed than Verstappen (who had that tow).

Why do we think McLaren, the car that they call best ever cannot overtake with DRS here?

The top speeds are similar all over the track. Max cam also fight back. But, just going to the end is unlikely to get Max the title.

Remember, max will get DRS back, and then fight hard...

[Darth-Piekus]

No matter the outcome tomorrow I must give congratulations to the engineering team for creating such a good car and hoping that the strategy team will be overhauled for the better once the chief RB strategist starts working at Mclaren. Back to back titles and making fun of 3 factory teams with a customer engine. Regarding 2025 and the last race I would like to wish for a normal race and our drivers to do the absolute minimum and get 2nd for Lando and 3rd for Max so the double is ours.

[FittingMechanics]

https://www.racefans.net/2025/12/06/ver ... n-in-2016/

Max doesn't sound like he thinks backing up is a viable tactic.

[mwillems]

He just seems to say it's harder now than then. We mentioned earlier the 21 track change. Less corners. It would be hard to do what Lewis did, but he can still add some jeopardy. It didnt seem like he ruled it out, but did suggest he might need to do something

I dont know what is ultimately possible, I just think that if he can do something to help get the title,he will, even if it is minor.