2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

[mwillems]

They have the same or less information available. They'll have some educated gusses I'm sure.

Do we know if the teams were sharing gps traces at Barcelona?

[FittingMechanics]

They have the same or less information available. They'll have some educated gusses I'm sure.

Do we know if the teams were sharing gps traces at Barcelona?

Ayau Komatsu was saying he hasn't analyzed GPS of other cars (yet). So I am guessing they do have them.

"I haven’t had time to really digest everybody else’s GPS data. Maybe Mercedes hasn’t got that inconsistency, but harvesting is very condition-dependent, driver operation-dependent, and then software needs to work very well to help robustness, if you like."

"So there is more vulnerability at the start of the season. I think if something goes wrong, I think it will be pretty obvious, because we’re not talking about tenths. You can lose half a second, six-tenths, seven-tenths, very, very easily. That’s the scary bit."

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ayao-koma ... in-f1-2026

[mwillems]

Thanks FM.
I imagined they would, but wasn't sure exactly what the setup with data would be as it was a private test.

[_cerber1]

Updates are expected to come to Australia, which should reduce the excess weight, but not completely.

[Ground Effect]

Updates are expected to come to Australia, which should reduce the excess weight, but not completely.

From what I've read recently, Auto racer aren't reliable. I may be mistaken, but aren't they the ones that reported McLaren used their own fuel during the Barcelona shakedown?

[genarro]

Updates are expected to come to Australia, which should reduce the excess weight, but not completely.

From what I've read recently, Auto racer aren't reliable. I may be mistaken, but aren't they the ones that reported McLaren used their own fuel during the Barcelona shakedown?

There has been absolute silence from all the teams since the "shakedown" testing. These medias are just making content for the sake of content.

[WardenOfTheNorth]

Updates are expected to come to Australia, which should reduce the excess weight, but not completely.

Aren't most teams currently over the weight limit?

[Ben1980]

Bigger issue for Mclaren is what goes on with the engine. Will it be restricted or even illegal. Can they do anything themselves to restrict it.

[genarro]

Bigger issue for Mclaren is what goes on with the engine. Will it be restricted or even illegal. Can they do anything themselves to restrict it.

Of course it is legal. Its a clever interpretation of rules and not cheating in any sense. And the FIA cleaered the engine of any wrongdoing. And its imposible to change just one thing on the engine witout a complete redesign. Its on others to exploit the trick and catch up.

[SilviuAgo]

just compared 2024 and 2025 on pato’s car #5 to MCL38 & MCL39

[Ben1980]

Bigger issue for Mclaren is what goes on with the engine. Will it be restricted or even illegal. Can they do anything themselves to restrict it.

Of course it is legal. Its a clever interpretation of rules and not cheating in any sense. And the FIA cleaered the engine of any wrongdoing. And its imposible to change just one thing on the engine witout a complete redesign. Its on others to exploit the trick and catch up.

Its being reported that tgey are changing the way it's tested, and will be at heat.

My very basic reading is they have gone against the meaning of the regulations, I would be surprised if it doesn't get amended at some point.

[CjC]

“We know that the MCL40 is a good starting point, but now we have to work hard to develop it and improve the overall performance of the package, both for the immediate future and to further define the development lines during the season.”

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/firs ... -mercedes/

[CjC]

Bigger issue for Mclaren is what goes on with the engine. Will it be restricted or even illegal. Can they do anything themselves to restrict it.

Of course it is legal. Its a clever interpretation of rules and not cheating in any sense. And the FIA cleaered the engine of any wrongdoing. And its imposible to change just one thing on the engine witout a complete redesign. Its on others to exploit the trick and catch up.

Its being reported that tgey are changing the way it's tested, and will be at heat.

My very basic reading is they have gone against the meaning of the regulations, I would be surprised if it doesn't get amended at some point.

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/merc ... melbourne/

[Ben1980]

Of course it is legal. Its a clever interpretation of rules and not cheating in any sense. And the FIA cleaered the engine of any wrongdoing. And its imposible to change just one thing on the engine witout a complete redesign. Its on others to exploit the trick and catch up.

Its being reported that tgey are changing the way it's tested, and will be at heat.

My very basic reading is they have gone against the meaning of the regulations, I would be surprised if it doesn't get amended at some point.

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/merc ... melbourne/

The engine will be neutered at some point.

It seems fair.

[De Wet]

Planet F1:

McLaren will conduct a filming day on Tuesday, prior to Bahrain testing beginning in earnest on Wednesday. Oscar Piastri will take the wheel all day on the first day of running, before handing over to Norris for Thursday, and the pair will share driving duties on the final day.