2025 McLaren F1 Team

[emp]

Damn, some people here are not petty at all and don't believe in growth or change.

[SilviuAgo]

To me, it's clear that Max has the edge at the moment but the rest of the field (Lando, Oscar, George, Charles) are all on a similar level with perhaps some areas where one driver is stronger than the other. Leclerc is the best qualifier, Lando best tire whisperer, Oscar maybe best overtakes and George best hair .

Lando doesn’t have to worry about where to stay tonight…

He appears to be living rent free in so many people’s heads

[FittingMechanics]

To me, it's clear that Max has the edge at the moment but the rest of the field (Lando, Oscar, George, Charles) are all on a similar level with perhaps some areas where one driver is stronger than the other. Leclerc is the best qualifier, Lando best tire whisperer, Oscar maybe best overtakes and George best hair .

Really didn't mean it as a slight to George, I just didn't have a specific area that I could point to. Someone probably knows more.

I've just finished watching F1TV post race show, the mentioned that the rumors are that the Mercedes engine for next year is amazing.

[bauc]

To me, it's clear that Max has the edge at the moment but the rest of the field (Lando, Oscar, George, Charles) are all on a similar level with perhaps some areas where one driver is stronger than the other. Leclerc is the best qualifier, Lando best tire whisperer, Oscar maybe best overtakes and George best hair .

Really didn't mean it as a slight to George, I just didn't have a specific area that I could point to. Someone probably knows more.

I've just finished watching F1TV post race show, the mentioned that the rumors are that the Mercedes engine for next year is amazing.

Speculations are that the Merc engine is the only one that will not require the lift and coast technique on the most power demanding tracks, as now the power is 50'/'50 between the engine and the battery.

[Gillian]

To me, it's clear that Max has the edge at the moment but the rest of the field (Lando, Oscar, George, Charles) are all on a similar level with perhaps some areas where one driver is stronger than the other. Leclerc is the best qualifier, Lando best tire whisperer, Oscar maybe best overtakes and George best hair .

Really didn't mean it as a slight to George, I just didn't have a specific area that I could point to. Someone probably knows more.

I've just finished watching F1TV post race show, the mentioned that the rumors are that the Mercedes engine for next year is amazing.

Russell is overrated, decent qualifier but less speed than Norris.

[mzso]

I really take issue with people saying Leclerc and Russell are much better drivers than Norris (or Piastri).

Leclerc did have his share of mistakes (and bottles) over the years. Same applies to Russell (this weekend qualifying is a great example).
Neither of them was in a true high pressure championship fight (for two years in a row).

In 4 Ferrari years, Leclerc was not dominant against Sainz (at least points wise). Lando was beaten by Sainz in Lando's rookie season and was matching him in his second season (then Sainz moved to Ferrari). Russell is a similar story, he did well against Hamilton but as we can see, it's possible Hamilton is well past his peak (at least in these types of cars).

And if you start to cherry pick then you can easily take Lando destroying Ricciardo as proof Lando is a top tier driver.

To me, it's clear that Max has the edge at the moment but the rest of the field (Lando, Oscar, George, Charles) are all on a similar level with perhaps some areas where one driver is stronger than the other. Leclerc is the best qualifier, Lando best tire whisperer, Oscar maybe best overtakes and George best hair .

You can't directly compare results with people driving dreadful cars...
As for Leclerc, it's hard to be dominant when it's a struggle to get into the top 6. On good result (lucky or otherwise) can make a drivers year. Like Sainz's single win beside a Red Bull in 2023, or his podium in Monaco when Ferrari was incapable of even fixing Leclerc's barely walled car during a whole night.
Russel did well against Hamilton. But it's more indicative of him not being far above other good drivers. Bottas proved to be not the same caliber.
For what it's worth I think, Leclerc, Verstappen, Russel, Hamilton, Alonso would have sealed the championship races ago. Even with McLaren's clown-show strategy department.

[SilviuAgo]

To me, it's clear that Max has the edge at the moment but the rest of the field (Lando, Oscar, George, Charles) are all on a similar level with perhaps some areas where one driver is stronger than the other. Leclerc is the best qualifier, Lando best tire whisperer, Oscar maybe best overtakes and George best hair .

Really didn't mean it as a slight to George, I just didn't have a specific area that I could point to. Someone probably knows more.

I've just finished watching F1TV post race show, the mentioned that the rumors are that the Mercedes engine for next year is amazing.

It was funny to read it. And after all this season hate, not only on Lando or McLaren, I am just supper happy with today outcome.



Anyway, haters will do what they know best, to hade. Cheers to all!

And it was an amazing pleasure and honor to be part of this f1 forum community for "a to remember" 2025. Happy Holidays to all and, to those celebrating, Merry Christmas and nice winter time with the beloved ones!

[AR3-GP]

Congratulations Lando Norris and team Mclaren. There's a target on your backs now

[mzso]

Speculations are that the Merc engine is the only one that will not require the lift and coast technique on the most power demanding tracks, as now the power is 50'/'50 between the engine and the battery.

Where the hell does this rumor come from? Even Mercedes doesn't know other makers performance figures. Beeing good compared to their own expectation is meaningless...
I fully expect Honda and Ferrari who both got burned recently to be on top of their game, because of sheer anxiety if nothing else.

[mwillems]

Congratulations Lando Norris and team Mclaren. There's a target on your backs now

Evidently it's been there all season

[bauc]

Speculations are that the Merc engine is the only one that will not require the lift and coast technique on the most power demanding tracks, as now the power is 50'/'50 between the engine and the battery.

Where the hell does this rumor come from? Even Mercedes doesn't know other makers performance figures. Beeing good compared to their own expectation is meaningless...
I fully expect Honda and Ferrari who both got burned recently to be on top of their game, because of sheer anxiety if nothing else.

Paddock speculations that make their way to the media, and the drivers have been driving the new cars on the sim for a while now, so all the people who have merc engine already know if this specualaton is true or no, but at this point is just that, a speculation.

[Ben1980]

To me, it's clear that Max has the edge at the moment but the rest of the field (Lando, Oscar, George, Charles) are all on a similar level with perhaps some areas where one driver is stronger than the other. Leclerc is the best qualifier, Lando best tire whisperer, Oscar maybe best overtakes and George best hair .

Really didn't mean it as a slight to George, I just didn't have a specific area that I could point to. Someone probably knows more.

I've just finished watching F1TV post race show, the mentioned that the rumors are that the Mercedes engine for next year is amazing.

Problem for George is i reckon Kimi will give him he'll if they have the car. I think he impressed a lot as the season went on.

[bauc]

Speculations are that the Merc engine is the only one that will not require the lift and coast technique on the most power demanding tracks, as now the power is 50'/'50 between the engine and the battery.

Where the hell does this rumor come from? Even Mercedes doesn't know other makers performance figures. Beeing good compared to their own expectation is meaningless...
I fully expect Honda and Ferrari who both got burned recently to be on top of their game, because of sheer anxiety if nothing else.

Paddock speculations that make their way to the media, and the drivers have been driving the new cars on the sim for a while now, so all the people who have merc engine already know if this specualaton is true or no, but at this point is just that, a speculation but it seems to be a recurring theme for the past month or two.

One thing is for sure, F1 doing a private test (no media allowed) In Jan is a red flag for me, I believe FIA knows that a lot of people are in trouble and they want to see how bad it is so they mitigate it before season start.

We are going off topic, so I would stop here.

[AR3-GP]

Congratulations Lando Norris and team Mclaren. There's a target on your backs now

Evidently it's been there all season

That was just the warmup

[mwillems]

Congratulations Lando Norris and team Mclaren. There's a target on your backs now

Evidently it's been there all season

That was just the warmup