The MCL35 would mix it up with the SF71, absolutely. They managed a 17.3 in qualifying last year, and the best Ferrari did a 16.2, the race pace difference was exactly the same, about 1 second. So if the MCL35 is a second faster than the MCL34, the MCL35 would absolutely give the top 3 from last year a hard time.LM10 wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 16:27It was never a question wether McLaren would mix with the top three. Even with the top three racing with their 2019 cars, McLaren would not be fast enough to catch them.daren_p wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 16:12First impression, a bit underwhelmed. Does not look like a contender to mix with the top three. A bit slimmer in the mid section & smaller sidepod intakes but a way to go to catch RB & Ferrari. I would assume the renders will be lacking many of the current pieces (as they were last year), if not will be quite disappointed, as things such as the bardge boards basically look like last years.
To add on that, Andreas Seidl already told that he doesn't expect them to be contenders for race wins before 2023.
I don't see it likely that Mercedes improves by a full second, Ferrari has admitted their changes bring between .5 and .8, Red Bull has improved by a similar amount. I see Mercedes as still ahead, but I can see McLaren getting within a second from the top.