2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

[geogate]

McLaren are looking really good, yet just about everyone ignoring them as potential contenders. I think they will be very happy with that

[Darth-Piekus]

McLaren are looking really good, yet just about everyone ignoring them as potential contenders. I think they will be very happy with that

Imagine the surprised Pikachu faces if Mclaren comes to Melbourne and dominates them even more than last year.

[MrGapes]

Glad team is getting good track time and performing, I’m a bit worried about these regs don’t know how I feel about drivers doing 85-90% quali laps to generate adequate energy through a lap. I really enjoy watching these drivers push it to the limits :/

[LM10]

McLaren are looking really good, yet just about everyone ignoring them as potential contenders. I think they will be very happy with that

No one is ignoring them.

[mwillems]

Glad team is getting good track time and performing, I’m a bit worried about these regs don’t know how I feel about drivers doing 85-90% quali laps to generate adequate energy through a lap. I really enjoy watching these drivers push it to the limits :/

Pushing to the limit is possible, if your chassis lets you do that with the tyres.

This will end up being circuit specific again, where Mclaren were normal at some tracks and imperious at others, like Miami.

We won't truly know who's done best till the season wears on, but the car that can manage their tyres better needs less excessive revs to generate energy in the drivetrain - and more energy driving forward.

We know Mclaren had a focus on the suspension before and into last year as it carried over. It makes me super happy to think they've been developing this for a few years with an eye on these regs. And I'd be surprised if they haven't.

[Macklaren]

Any comparison of long run times for deg and deployment?

[venkyhere]

[SilviuAgo]

[CjC]

Norris: McLaren not close to Ferrari right now

Lando Norris speaking to Sky Sports F1 after finishing second fastest to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on Thursday in Bahrain:
"We did a good amount of laps, we’re certainly not quick enough.
"Plenty of work for us to look into and try to improve on.
"I think today was our first bit of understanding on where we stand in terms of pace, against at least Ferrari, who did a full long run.
"We’re not really close to them at the minute. We’re certainly not bad, but we’re not quick enough.
"It’s still just testing and we’ve got plenty of things we know we can already improve on and work on, so nothing to be worried by, but a productive day for the teams and for myself, and that’s the most important thing."

[dialtone]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HA-IybFbsAU ... =4096x4096

What is this graph? How is high top speed exclusive with high downforce when all of your wings are retracted in top speed?

[AR3-GP]

Norris: McLaren not close to Ferrari right now

Lando Norris speaking to Sky Sports F1 after finishing second fastest to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on Thursday in Bahrain:
"We did a good amount of laps, we’re certainly not quick enough.
"Plenty of work for us to look into and try to improve on.
"I think today was our first bit of understanding on where we stand in terms of pace, against at least Ferrari, who did a full long run.
"We’re not really close to them at the minute. We’re certainly not bad, but we’re not quick enough.
"It’s still just testing and we’ve got plenty of things we know we can already improve on and work on, so nothing to be worried by, but a productive day for the teams and for myself, and that’s the most important thing."

Underdog gimmick.

[Macklaren]

Norris: McLaren not close to Ferrari right now

Lando Norris speaking to Sky Sports F1 after finishing second fastest to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on Thursday in Bahrain:
"We did a good amount of laps, we’re certainly not quick enough.
"Plenty of work for us to look into and try to improve on.
"I think today was our first bit of understanding on where we stand in terms of pace, against at least Ferrari, who did a full long run.
"We’re not really close to them at the minute. We’re certainly not bad, but we’re not quick enough.
"It’s still just testing and we’ve got plenty of things we know we can already improve on and work on, so nothing to be worried by, but a productive day for the teams and for myself, and that’s the most important thing."

Underdog gimmick.

The good thing is that there is plenty of space in the undercut to hide the sand bags

[swifteddie1]

Norris: McLaren not close to Ferrari right now

Lando Norris speaking to Sky Sports F1 after finishing second fastest to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on Thursday in Bahrain:
"We did a good amount of laps, we’re certainly not quick enough.
"Plenty of work for us to look into and try to improve on.
"I think today was our first bit of understanding on where we stand in terms of pace, against at least Ferrari, who did a full long run.
"We’re not really close to them at the minute. We’re certainly not bad, but we’re not quick enough.
"It’s still just testing and we’ve got plenty of things we know we can already improve on and work on, so nothing to be worried by, but a productive day for the teams and for myself, and that’s the most important thing."

Underdog gimmick.

I dont think its a gimmick. They have some work to do. They might be close on 1 lap pace but when it comes to race pace they are behind Red Bull and Ferrari is what he's saying.

[upsidedowntoast]

For what it's worth I think Mclaren will do better than Mercedes this year, despite all the hype Mercedes has been getting. If both have the same engine...idk, I have a gut feeling that organizationally Mclaren is just more capable in terms of aero/package delivery/setup. Mclaren have experienced the rock bottom that forced them to change and get their --- together from the pre-2024 years, and they're stronger for it. Mercedes have not been through this yet -- yes, the GE era was an underperformance compared to 2014-2021, but they were still good enough to podium and win sometimes. And that "good enough" is simultaneously a blessing and a curse.

Then again, if the Merc PU gets nerfed by the FIA then it's anyone's game, and it just might be Ferrari's year for real this time.

[Ben1980]

Im not sure if any Merc powered engine is pushing the limits. Not sure if they will be allowed yet, by Merc anyway. Maybe day 3 next week will give an idea.