2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

[Xero]

Mclaren is not missing day 1, there is a 5 day window for a 3 day test, you are free to choose which 3 days you will run, so no it's just a clickbait headline that is all.

I was about to post this too. Absolutely no need for alarm, everything seems fairly content within the team.

[Emag]

From what I understand, RedBull is said to have followed the same approach and they will arrive in Barcelona with a car that will largely resemble what they will have in Melbourne too. Perhaps it's confidence in their direction, they don't need to evaluate a baseline. But it's still is an interesting approach that they are willing to share their design so early.

[SilviuAgo]

Somehow that was expected:





Article here: https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/mcla ... on-opener/

[LionsHeart]

I'm fine with McLaren's approach to testing. It's just that the first tests in Bahrain will be essentially closed (limited) to spectators and fans. The last hour of practice will be available. Only in the second series of tests in Bahrain will we be able to watch the broadcast throughout the day. This is very painful for me.

[De Wet]

I'm fine with McLaren's approach to testing. It's just that the first tests in Bahrain will be essentially closed (limited) to spectators and fans. The last hour of practice will be available. Only in the second series of tests in Bahrain will we be able to watch the broadcast throughout the day. This is very painful for me.

I think only Barcelona next week are closed... Both Bahrain tests are normal.

[Emag]

I'm fine with McLaren's approach to testing. It's just that the first tests in Bahrain will be essentially closed (limited) to spectators and fans. The last hour of practice will be available. Only in the second series of tests in Bahrain will we be able to watch the broadcast throughout the day. This is very painful for me.

I think only Barcelona next week are closed... Both Bahrain tests are normal.

Nope, first bahrain test will not be broadcasted in full, only the last hour of each day. A bit disappointing. I have been used to putting testing on the background while doing stuff these last couple of years.

[De Wet]

I'm fine with McLaren's approach to testing. It's just that the first tests in Bahrain will be essentially closed (limited) to spectators and fans. The last hour of practice will be available. Only in the second series of tests in Bahrain will we be able to watch the broadcast throughout the day. This is very painful for me.

I think only Barcelona next week are closed... Both Bahrain tests are normal.

Nope, first bahrain test will not be broadcasted in full, only the last hour of each day. A bit disappointing. I have been used to putting testing on the background while doing stuff these last couple of years.

Damn...

Thanks.

[Macklaren]

Stella is describing the car as "ambitious". Giving me "innovative" vibes from last year!
Ooooh now I'm nervous... Nervous excited because it's clear that they are cooking something. Nervous scared because what if they are not?

[AR3-GP]

Mclaren PR is running hard defense already

Everything must be spun into an "advantage" or "the plan"...

[Emag]

Mclaren PR is running hard defense already

Everything must be spun into an "advantage" or "the plan"...

To be honest, it's the race who are spinning it that way. Stella only mentioned "Plan A" being to start on the second day of the test, so I guess they just knew they wouldn't make it on time based on whatever internal agenda they have.

There's not much PR going on, it's rather obvious they're pushing things and are on a tight schedule. If everything was ready, it doesn't make sense to start on the second or third day. And they certainly would have done a shakedown before that.

[AR3-GP]

Mclaren PR is running hard defense already

Everything must be spun into an "advantage" or "the plan"...

To be honest, it's the race who are spinning it that way. Stella only mentioned "Plan A" being to start on the second day of the test, so I guess they just knew they wouldn't make it on time based on whatever internal agenda they have.

There's not much PR going on, it's rather obvious they're pushing things and are on a tight schedule. If everything was ready, it doesn't make sense to start on the second or third day. And they certainly would have done a shakedown before that.

It's right there in Stella's own words

"There's so much of a change that we don't need to be necessarily the first on track.

"We wanted to give as much time as possible for development, because every day of development, every day of design, was adding a little bit of performance.

"If you are early on track, you will have the reassurance of knowing what you need to know as soon as possible.

"But at the same time, it means you might have committed to the design and the realisation of the car relatively early, so you will have compromised against development time and ultimate performance.

"Obviously there will be updates pretty much for every car between testing and the first race. But we thought that, in the economy of a season, it was important to start and launch the car in the most competitive package and configuration.

"That's why we pushed all the timing to the limit, but within a very manageable limit.

"We didn't feel any urge to plan for testing on day one."

No team aspires to not do a shakedown and no team aspires to miss the 1st day of testing. This is not "the plan according to internal agenda" as you are also spinning. None of these are competitive advantages. This is waffle. We cannot be this gullible

Mclaren have more likely had delays, and things did not go to plan which is why they are not doing a shakedown and will miss the first day of testing. However, this unsavory version doesn't fit the PG rating that Mclaren sells.

On top of it all, Mclaren have arranged for "preview renders" to be shown to british journalist, and no one else...
As I said, Mclaren are jumping through hoops to manage perceptions of what is happening here...

[Emag]

Mclaren PR is running hard defense already

Everything must be spun into an "advantage" or "the plan"...

To be honest, it's the race who are spinning it that way. Stella only mentioned "Plan A" being to start on the second day of the test, so I guess they just knew they wouldn't make it on time based on whatever internal agenda they have.

There's not much PR going on, it's rather obvious they're pushing things and are on a tight schedule. If everything was ready, it doesn't make sense to start on the second or third day. And they certainly would have done a shakedown before that.

It's right there in Stella's own words

"There's so much of a change that we don't need to be necessarily the first on track.

"We wanted to give as much time as possible for development, because every day of development, every day of design, was adding a little bit of performance.

"If you are early on track, you will have the reassurance of knowing what you need to know as soon as possible.

"But at the same time, it means you might have committed to the design and the realisation of the car relatively early, so you will have compromised against development time and ultimate performance.

"Obviously there will be updates pretty much for every car between testing and the first race. But we thought that, in the economy of a season, it was important to start and launch the car in the most competitive package and configuration.

"That's why we pushed all the timing to the limit, but within a very manageable limit.

"We didn't feel any urge to plan for testing on day one."

No team aspires to not do a shakedown and no team aspires to miss the 1st day of testing. This is not "the plan according to internal agenda" as you are also spinning. None of these are competitive advantages. This is waffle. We cannot be this gullible

I mean, the words are up to your interpretation, but he is clearly stating there's disadvantages to their approach and he knows they're missing something by not being early on-track. And he also makes it pretty clear they have pushed things to the limit and that meant missing day one of testing. So I am not exactly spinning much with regards to their agenda, it's literally what he said.

If you take these words as him spinning the whole situation as being advantageous, then that's on you.

At the end of the day, the testing scheme this year is quite unusual because the FIA requested a very early private test. Teams are not normally expected to have finished their cars by end of January. If they pushed things a bit too much, but are only late by one day, that's hardly cause for panic. RedBull and Ferrari have not had a shakedown either.

Now if they arrive on the test and they can't keep the car running for more than 2 laps, that's a different story. Then you can laugh at their faces for offering this excuse.

EDIT: Oof, that got a bit over the top with those edits. Yeah okay, you're free to view things from whatever perspective you want to.

[Seerix]

Mclaren PR is running hard defense already

Everything must be spun into an "advantage" or "the plan"...

To be honest, it's the race who are spinning it that way. Stella only mentioned "Plan A" being to start on the second day of the test, so I guess they just knew they wouldn't make it on time based on whatever internal agenda they have.

There's not much PR going on, it's rather obvious they're pushing things and are on a tight schedule. If everything was ready, it doesn't make sense to start on the second or third day. And they certainly would have done a shakedown before that.

It's right there in Stella's own words

"There's so much of a change that we don't need to be necessarily the first on track.

"We wanted to give as much time as possible for development, because every day of development, every day of design, was adding a little bit of performance.

"If you are early on track, you will have the reassurance of knowing what you need to know as soon as possible.

"But at the same time, it means you might have committed to the design and the realisation of the car relatively early, so you will have compromised against development time and ultimate performance.

"Obviously there will be updates pretty much for every car between testing and the first race. But we thought that, in the economy of a season, it was important to start and launch the car in the most competitive package and configuration.

"That's why we pushed all the timing to the limit, but within a very manageable limit.

"We didn't feel any urge to plan for testing on day one."

No team aspires to not do a shakedown and no team aspires to miss the 1st day of testing. This is not "the plan according to internal agenda" as you are also spinning. None of these are competitive advantages. This is waffle. We cannot be this gullible

Mclaren have more likely had delays, and things did not go to plan which is why they are not doing a shakedown and will miss the first day of testing. However, this unsavory version doesn't fit the PG rating that Mclaren sells.

On top of it all, Mclaren have arranged for "preview renders" to be shown to british journalist, and no one else...
As I said, Mclaren are jumping through hoops to manage perceptions of what is happening here...

rofl, does it still hurt THAT much?

[basti313]

No team aspires to not do a shakedown and no team aspires to miss the 1st day of testing. This is not "the plan according to internal agenda" as you are also spinning. None of these are competitive advantages. This is waffle. We cannot be this gullible

Mclaren have more likely had delays, and things did not go to plan which is why they are not doing a shakedown and will miss the first day of testing. However, this unsavory version doesn't fit the PG rating that Mclaren sells.

Well...I think this is totally it, not necessarily spinning but a huge press script instead of using "we are late". Being late two days to testing is not giving you an advantage or is anything you want, we discussed design and manufacturing times enough already.
This is the PR bullshit which I started to hate about McLaren. Not a single time they go on media is unscripted or honest.

They are going to AVL instead of a shakedown. Totally fine. I just do not understand, why they not just say it like it is.
Furthermore it would be interesting who else is at AVL.

[SilviuAgo]

A pleasure hear Rob speaking about Formula 1.