2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

[Darth-Piekus]

Indeed. Considering how faster Mercedes are both drivers did a very good job. Canada though is so strange. Hamilton demolished Leclerc and Verstappen barely beat Hadjar.

[Macklaren]

Going to be spicy tomorrow with the rain! But I guess we will only know the true picture in Spain

[Darth-Piekus]

If it rains expect the two Mclaren drivers to shine. A good chance to win.

[Macklaren]

If it rains expect the two Mclaren drivers to shine. A good chance to win.

Good point. PIA has been close to NOR this weekend which is very good to see

[Balalu]

Session after session, I keep getting a "so close, yet so far" feeling.

[FittingMechanics]

Session after session, I keep getting a "so close, yet so far" feeling.

Definitely. With the current trajectory of development McLaren should become fastest car this year. Important not to fall too far back in points so that we have an interesting year.

But even if they just recover to win races this year, with no credible championship challenge this would still be a hugely successful year, we didn't know if McLaren can stay on top through a regulation change.

[geogate]

if nothing else, this season is muting the Norris critics - he is actually driving like a champ so far this year

[SilviuAgo]

if nothing else, this season is muting the Norris critics - he is actually driving like a champ so far this year

Indeed, after too much party after become World Champion , Lando is back. All the critics said last year "is the car", but now Lando show to all that he's a real champ. Amazing Sprint race from no1 driver and also a better quali than expected.



Also, not to forget one of the best overtakes seen in the last years, Oscar vs Hamilton. That was insane and chapeau to Oscar for that.

[Balalu]

Norris is driving like the world champion that he is.

And Oscar does the most insane-yet-successfull moves, unlike Max (and Kimi, who people are now comparing to Max) who in the same situation go all bonkers and fail, yet get praised. If it was Lando/Oscar instead, oh dear.

[CjC]

Mclaren currently have no intention to change the gear ratios:

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/majo ... explained/

[Waz]

Mclaren currently have no intention to change the gear ratios:

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/majo ... explained/

Maybe doing something like that would confine them permanently to 2nd best this year, but keeping the ratios as is offers opportunity to be the best at some tracks.

[Mcl_G10]

We should be fairly confident of the car being pretty good in wet and drying conditions.
If we can leave Canada with lando somehow outscoring kimi then the championship could be on imo.

[Darth-Piekus]

There is also the possibility of Kimi and Russell hit each other. They were very close in Sprint Race and Kimi is still livid after the sprint. First time though I have seen Toto Wolf interfere.

[Badger]

Mclaren currently have no intention to change the gear ratios:

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/majo ... explained/

Maybe doing something like that would confine them permanently to 2nd best this year, but keeping the ratios as is offers opportunity to be the best at some tracks.

Suspect it's more of a cost thing. I would be surprised if they are not much more similar to Merc from 2027.

[FittingMechanics]

Mclaren currently have no intention to change the gear ratios:

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/majo ... explained/

Maybe doing something like that would confine them permanently to 2nd best this year, but keeping the ratios as is offers opportunity to be the best at some tracks.

Suspect it's more of a cost thing. I would be surprised if they are not much more similar to Merc from 2027.

I would not be surprised if they kept them shorter (or Mercedes moved to shorten theirs). With end of straight recharging why would you have long final gear?

Do people think McLaren randomly picked their gear ratios? Stella in that article explains that they feel they gain more by having shorter gears.