2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

[Ground Effect]

And to add more to this horrible "race pace"...is the start
And do not tell me that there is a lower engine mode or sandbagging here. Australia is not looking good for now.

As if Lando's starts weren't inconsistent enough, now this...

[Darth-Piekus]

I think you are taking things too seriously.

[mwillems]

And to add more to this horrible "race pace"...is the start
And do not tell me that there is a lower engine mode or sandbagging here. Australia is not looking good for now.

Perhaps, this start is poor, and clearly there is an execution problem, but for the other information, it isn't about sandbagging, it is about that one video being little use on it's own, which it isn't - for which there are various reasons.

We've seen a couple of starts, I don't know why there are issues. I don't know how many starts have started well vs not, I don't know if in these starts we see they are deliberately trying to push the start procedure close to the edge to minimise timing and optimise the procedure.

None of this is known.

[Ground Effect]

I think you are taking things too seriously.

Well, if this was a GP, and that happened, there's a very good chance he gets shunted from the rear. I mean, he didn't move for a few seconds. It kinda looks serious.

[Darth-Piekus]

I think you are taking things too seriously.

Well, if this was a GP, and that happened, there's a very good chance he gets shunted from the rear. I mean, he didn't move for a few seconds. It kinda looks serious.

That is why these tests exist. To find the optimal way.

[Ground Effect]

Is Oscar on Hards??

[bauc]

And to add more to this horrible "race pace"...is the start
And do not tell me that there is a lower engine mode or sandbagging here. Australia is not looking good for now.

As if Lando's starts weren't inconsistent enough, now this...

You did not said anything about PIA perfect starts yesterday, so .....

[Nicktendo86]

Is Oscar on Hards??

C2

[Ground Effect]

And to add more to this horrible "race pace"...is the start
And do not tell me that there is a lower engine mode or sandbagging here. Australia is not looking good for now.

As if Lando's starts weren't inconsistent enough, now this...

You did not said anything about PIA perfect starts yesterday, so .....

My reference was particular about Lando, simply because he's had a lot of inconsistent starts, not that McLaren have an issue generally. So my concern is that this system may be a specific issue for Lando as already starts sometimes prove a challenge, so could be an advantage for rivals, including Oscar. In others words, a potential Lando problem, not McLaren.

[venkyhere]

Long runs from Thursday morning in Bahrain from George Russell, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HBhCZ6IXEAA ... ame=medium

Redbull seems to be the slowest of the three, but they are showing very good consistency.

[venkyhere]

I think you are taking things too seriously.

That is why these tests exist. To find the optimal way.

Hello, sir.
That's a surprisingly non-worried reaction from your good self (usually you send 'worried queries').
Welcome to the 'calm side'.

[Darth-Piekus]

I think you are taking things too seriously.

That is why these tests exist. To find the optimal way.

Hello, sir.
That's a surprisingly non-worried reaction from your good self (usually you send 'worried queries').
Welcome to the 'calm side'.

I've changed prespective. For example to all those who said that Max was the better driver last year I give them congratulations and a pat to the back. Being the better overall driver doesnt mean that Norris did not deserve it as at the end of the day the best package of car and driver won. Just an example of the new prespective and a decision to take everything with a grain of salt.

[bluechris]

FLAP from Piastry, car looked pretty good.

[Darth-Piekus]

Anyone knows the engine levels of who's pushing and who's not?

[SilviuAgo]

And to add more to this horrible "race pace"...is the start
And do not tell me that there is a lower engine mode or sandbagging here. Australia is not looking good for now.

Perhaps, this start is poor, and clearly there is an execution problem, but for the other information, it isn't about sandbagging, it is about that one video being little use on it's own, which it isn't - for which there are various reasons.

We've seen a couple of starts, I don't know why there are issues. I don't know how many starts have started well vs not, I don't know if in these starts we see they are deliberately trying to push the start procedure close to the edge to minimise timing and optimise the procedure.

None of this is known.

I know there are "little games" that teams are doing, some willing to prove more for the sponsors and media and others to hide real pace, but for the moment imo, and I mention this is my personal opinion, McLaren may look ok for one lap pace but for "race pace", the huge tire advantage from last year has vanished, The deg is actually insane. Seems like tires just fall off the cliff and probably the rear are completely useless beyond that.
I think the shorter gear ratios are a mistake. Combined with the burst of deployment in acceleration, it's highly likely it's causing wheelspin out of corners which is normally quite hard for drivers to control.



Buy I pray that mcLaren will prove me (and others placing the team as 4th best) wrong.