Lot to test, we have plenty to unlock.
In Madring we also looked no where only for Lando to get pole (with a mistake) and clearly fastest car in the race.
I know tracks are different, but Friday means nothing.
Agreed, we are slower in S1 and 2 than I'd thought, I expected us to lead. I can't see us getting close in S3, which was my point from previously, it's too big a gap to surmount.FittingMechanics wrote: ↑24 Sep 2026, 15:41Lot to test, we have plenty to unlock.
In Madring we also looked no where only for Lando to get pole (with a mistake) and clearly fastest car in the race.
I know tracks are different, but Friday means nothing.
mwillems wrote: ↑24 Sep 2026, 15:50
Agreed, we are slower in S1 and 2 than I'd thought, I expected us to lead. I can't see us getting close in S3, which was my point from previously, it's too big a gap to surmount.
It's also one of the few overtaking spots in the race, and we won't be doing a great deal on that straight...
I think Marshall's comment is the more relevant one. We know how it is with Lando, the eternal pessimist. He did this in Zandvoort, Hungary, and Madrid.
“I think the car seems to be doing what we want it to do. The aero map kind of seems pretty happy, it’s just a matter of dialling in the performance now.
There’s an inherent straight line weakness and that’s where they loose all the time.CjC wrote: ↑24 Sep 2026, 16:41Yes Lando is indeed. He did say prior to the event Baku as the one that’s he’s least looking forward too.
However, is it too much to expect McLaren to go well here? We know Lando’s car has been rapid the last 3 out of 4 races but is there an inherent slow speed weakness?
Let’s see.