2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

[CjC]

Does anybody have any info on the Mclarens drag/ top speed difference of the H-wing compared to the standard wing in straight line mode?

[Darth-Piekus]

Was there a reason Mclaren didn't double stack the two cars during the VSC? Did we not have new Hards or New Mediums?

[search]

Was there a reason Mclaren didn't double stack the two cars during the VSC? Did we not have new Hards or New Mediums?

no, only the mediums used at the start. And the VSC looked likely to end soon - it in fact did just when Verstappen exited the pits. So the McLarens 8-10s behind wouldn't have fully benefited from it.

[AR3-GP]

I don't think Norris would get Max with that older tires and no top speed. In fact i am happy that Piastri could keep up with Norris today. We'll need him strong to get this 2nd place WCC.

Whether he could have got him or not is irrelevant. The problem is that McLaren took away his chance at an attempt, only for them to finish with Lando ahead anyway …

I'm not sure that I follow in what sense that Mclaren took away the chance of Norris. Actually, the only reason that Norris caught up Piastri at the end is because Piastri got into yo-yo race with Max, while trying to hold on to that P3 for Mclaren. It's the same position that Norris would have been in. It's not like Norris was in Piastri's gearbox the whole race. There was nothing for Mclaren to do here. Lando didn't have a better chance than Oscar of passing Max. We were just seeing the effect of overtake mode and energy depletion cycles.

[Darth-Piekus]

I believe that due to Norris having saved tyres he would have a better chance.

[Danzo84]

I don't think Norris would get Max with that older tires and no top speed. In fact i am happy that Piastri could keep up with Norris today. We'll need him strong to get this 2nd place WCC.

Whether he could have got him or not is irrelevant. The problem is that McLaren took away his chance at an attempt, only for them to finish with Lando ahead anyway …

I'm not sure that I follow in what sense that Mclaren took away the chance of Norris. Actually, the only reason that Norris caught up Piastri at the end is because Piastri got into yo-yo race with Max, while trying to hold on to that P3 for Mclaren. It's the same position that Norris would have been in. It's not like Norris was in Piastri's gearbox the whole race. There was nothing for Mclaren to do here. Lando didn't have a better chance than Oscar of passing Max. We were just seeing the effect of overtake mode and energy depletion cycles.

Well at least try it, give norris a chance to put pressure on max and see if he can pull away...if not swap back before the end.

[geogate]

quite a poorly executed race for me, but overall the pace was quite encouraging - didnt have the beating of Mercedes, but we could have had everyone else. One of the worse tracks for mclaren i guess that bodes quite well. I will be happy with another 2 or 3 wins and second in the constructors

[AR3-GP]

Well at least try it, give norris a chance to put pressure on max and see if he can pull away...if not swap back before the end.

I can't say what he thinks, but my impression is that Andrea Stella doesn't want anything to do with it unless there is a significant and obvious benefit. He's had his hands burned too many times already.

[willmesquita]

Well at least try it, give norris a chance to put pressure on max and see if he can pull away...if not swap back before the end.

I can't say what he thinks, but my impression is that Andrea Stella doesn't want anything to do with it unless there is a significant and obvious benefit. He's had his hands burned too many times already.

100% agree

[AR3-GP]

The difference between "1st lap" Lando and "last lap" Lando is fascinating. His first laps can be so-so but give him a last lap, and he will make any move stick.

[AR3-GP]

@Emag I was looking forward to your post-race digest on the insights twitter page.

[SilviuAgo]

Maybe one of the reasons McLaren and Stella in particular, doesn't want to intervene with team orders:

Fred Vasseur: "To see if we have a team order or whatever, I think that the good comparison that I made was that last year, Piastri was leading McLaren at this stage of the season. And if McLaren put everything on Piastri, Max Verstappen would have been champion. But for sure, at one stage, you have to take a decision. But I think it was too early to take a decision before Monza. Now we have time to discuss with the guys."

[Emag]

I don't think Norris would get Max with that older tires and no top speed. In fact i am happy that Piastri could keep up with Norris today. We'll need him strong to get this 2nd place WCC.

Whether he could have got him or not is irrelevant. The problem is that McLaren took away his chance at an attempt, only for them to finish with Lando ahead anyway …

I'm not sure that I follow in what sense that Mclaren took away the chance of Norris. Actually, the only reason that Norris caught up Piastri at the end is because Piastri got into yo-yo race with Max, while trying to hold on to that P3 for Mclaren. It's the same position that Norris would have been in. It's not like Norris was in Piastri's gearbox the whole race. There was nothing for Mclaren to do here. Lando didn't have a better chance than Oscar of passing Max. We were just seeing the effect of overtake mode and energy depletion cycles.

Lando was a couple of tenths per lap (on average) faster than Oscar even before he started yo-yoing with Max. If anything, Max helped Oscar by giving him overtake and slipstream and pulled him along. Oscar wasn't anywhere near a 1.24 for example. So no, they didn't have equal chances of getting Max. The team had this data. They knew Lando was faster, and didn't even try to get the podium.

[Ben1980]

Was there a reason Mclaren didn't double stack the two cars during the VSC? Did we not have new Hards or New Mediums?

It would have been pointless to do it, in reality.

[Emag]

@Emag I was looking forward to your post-race digest on the insights twitter page.

We had a watch “party” at an Italian friend’s home and I didn’t want to be rude and bring the laptop with me

After some hours pass, there’s plenty of other accounts which post their analysis for the race so I don’t see the point in doing it at that point.