2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

[Def]

Mercedes, at least publicly, isn't taking too much responsibility, speaking of Ferrari and Red Bull as teams in a good position. However, internally, they feel they're the favorites, even though there are some doubts about the engine's reliability, given that (at least) one customer team has been told it won't be able to use it to its full potential in Melbourne.

McLaren?

[CjC]

Doubt it’s McLaren. If Merc want the best shot at winning the title they’ll need McLaren to take points off any potential title rival to Merc….. unless they feel McLaren are the biggest threat….

[Badger]

Doubt it’s McLaren. If Merc want the best shot at winning the title they’ll need McLaren to take points off any potential title rival to Merc….. unless they feel McLaren are the biggest threat….

The implication is everyone would be running detuned. He is just saying that one customer has been told about it. Can't have separate engine maps between customers.

[FittingMechanics]

Doubt it’s McLaren. If Merc want the best shot at winning the title they’ll need McLaren to take points off any potential title rival to Merc….. unless they feel McLaren are the biggest threat….

The implication is everyone would be running detuned. He is just saying that one customer has been told about it. Can't have separate engine maps between customers.

I'm reading it like that as well.

Will be pretty ominous if Mercedes wins in Melbourne.

[API]

Every time you have a new PJ, you gradually increase the power and you never go full speed right from the start. This applies even if you get a new improved unit.
It only starts fully in the third race, for example. There is a limited number of engines and engines are expensive.

You also don't want to (theoretically) show more than necessary, so as not to cause "everyone" ADUO.

[FittingMechanics]

I really hope McLaren is strong in Melbourne and especially during the year. Many (drivers and pundits) are ignoring McLaren, only talking about Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.

[API]

Don't worry, the season is long, the best development will decide. McLaren is really good there.

[Emag]

I really hope McLaren is strong in Melbourne and especially during the year. Many (drivers and pundits) are ignoring McLaren, only talking about Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.

They dismiss it because what they showed in testing didn’t look good enough to challenge for wins.

Ferrari, Mercedes and potentially RedBull looked better.

Then McLaren themselves say they’re probably not going to lead the pack going into Australia. They looked quite slow in the first test and then improved on the second. Both times they conveyed messages in line with the pace shown on track.

There is no reason to “hope” for anything in Melbourne. If they win, and win on pace from the first race, then that would honestly be embarassing for the other factory teams. Maybe less so for RedBull considering the age of the project, but still.

From what we have seen so far though, that’s not going to happen. Not in melbourne at least. All teams say development rate will be very high, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the pecking order is very different by midpoint of the season.

[SilviuAgo]

Our number 1

[CjC]

Don't worry, the season is long, the best development will decide. McLaren is really good there.

Basically what Lando said. He’s seems very confident….

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/arti ... oKiw6qoPu1

[SilviuAgo]

LN: “good confidence in myself and in the team. we probably dont have the same level of confidence in our outright speed compared to beginning of last year. but we're confident in our ability over the course of the season to get back to where we want to be”

[FittingMechanics]

Seems like they are trying to increase expectations now, saying they feel they are close.

Maybe they know a big package is coming like in previous years.

[mwillems]

I know eye aero is bullsh*t and everything, but honestly I am really surprised how McLaren can seemingly do so well while having a car so bare of any unique surface aerodynamic solutions. The car is just a really really basic concept that has been executed quite well. You look at Ferrari, RedBull and Mercedes, they all have unique ideas that their chassis plays around with. Things that really catch your eye and attention with clever interpretations.

And here goes McLaren. Standard downwashing sidepods. Conventional diffuser. A leading floor edge that looks even simpler than some midfield teams, let alone compared to the other top teams. Visually speaking, it makes no sense for this car to keep up with the other 3.

Mclaren's front wing is quite unique with the steep trail edge,the "wing" is going downwords,not upwards,and I'm sure the are more eagle eyes here that can explain better the "plain" but sophisticated Mcl 40.

The Mclaren is plain, in places. Sophisticated in others. The front third of the car is interesting, and suspension, and these are the things we see. It does feel like the team may have focussed under the skin and theres a lot we don't know.

No one has the complete package and not doubt there will be a lot of copying between teams.

[SmallSoldier]

I really hope McLaren is strong in Melbourne and especially during the year. Many (drivers and pundits) are ignoring McLaren, only talking about Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.

Most Pundits don’t know more than most fans do… And we (the fans) know very little…

In 2024, most Pundits / Journalists had McLaren finishing 4th or 5th after pre-season testing… We won the WCC that year

[mwillems]

Doubt it’s McLaren. If Merc want the best shot at winning the title they’ll need McLaren to take points off any potential title rival to Merc….. unless they feel McLaren are the biggest threat….

The implication is everyone would be running detuned. He is just saying that one customer has been told about it. Can't have separate engine maps between customers.

You can have multiple maps available to all, with customers choosing maps. There may be a team with cooling issues, if so it certainly isn't Mclaren. Teams may be able to design their own maps as long as they are made available to other customers, by merc.