2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

[SilviuAgo]

Oscar with problems in the session end, caused start practice to be aborted. He moved on and the start practice looked amazing for hamlton and Ferrari, from P5 to P1. Rocket!

[FittingMechanics]

I didn't watch it live but start practice is aborted every time, they then run another formation lap and launch.

Verstappen at launch had similar wheelspin to Russell this in morning session. Everyone still fine tuning it.

Piastri start was far back but it looked good.


Today looked very good for McLaren. Great one lap and long run pace.

[Darth-Piekus]

156 laps today if I'm not mistaken. Great milage, a powerful car on a qualifying and good long run pace. Onwards to the last day of testing and then back at the factory to see what we can improve to the first race.

[ttttam86]

Quick stint comparison, Oscar v Max:

Stint Verstappen Piastri Delta (PIA vs VER)
1 1:39.628 1:39.895 +0.267s (VER faster)
2 1:38.745 1:38.446 -0.299s (PIA faster)
3 1:37.942 1:37.697 -0.245s (PIA faster)

Keen for tomorrow PM to see where this nets out against Ferrari & Merc, but if the race were tomorrow, we would be looking at roughly a 15 second overall win over Red Bull.

[mwillems]

...

i couldve sworn last week that mclaren had the best tyre deg of the big four, what do you mean?

Last run by Lando remained a bit more "stable", but once tires went it became hard for him to control. Two lock ups and off-tracks and then he went to the pits. So although laptimes stayed more under control, once the tires went, car was hard to keep on track

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HBg82OcWYAA ... ame=medium

Imo tire deg is not looking good.

From the little I'd seen, it's certainly not bad. But it'll be tyre and setup specific for instance.

The initial point I made is that you need to look at the broader examples of data, and the car is capable of good deg.

Maybe they are trying setups and some are better than others, maybe the other strong race sims had different setup and regeneration driving style.

I think all we can see is that the car is clearly capable of strong degs with strong race pace and hope there aren't other drawbacks that mean this can carried forward to Melbourne.

[the EDGE]

I didn't watch it live but start practice is aborted every time, they then run another formation lap and launch.

Verstappen at launch had similar wheelspin to Russell this in morning session. Everyone still fine tuning it.

Piastri start was far back but it looked good.


Today looked very good for McLaren. Great one lap and long run pace.

Oscar had a great get-away yesterday too, it’s Lando that’s had issues but I guess we don’t know if that was a car issue or a Lando issue

So far I’d say over-all position is not clear, but I don’t think last years top 4 are going to joined by the other 7 teams… yet

[Def]

[McG]

I think you are taking things too seriously.

That is why these tests exist. To find the optimal way.

Hello, sir.
That's a surprisingly non-worried reaction from your good self (usually you send 'worried queries').
Welcome to the 'calm side'.

I've changed prespective. For example to all those who said that Max was the better driver last year I give them congratulations and a pat to the back. Being the better overall driver doesnt mean that Norris did not deserve it as at the end of the day the best package of car and driver won. Just an example of the new prespective and a decision to take everything with a grain of salt.

I particularly thought his spin at Silverstone in the wet and him ramming Russell proved he is the best. The Rainmeister Rammer.

[CjC]

Lando is tempering expectations:
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/land ... /10798914/

[Ground Effect]

Lando is tempering expectations:
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/land ... /10798914/

Whoever finishes 4th should be given the WCC at this rate.

[CjC]

Zak is too:
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/arti ... B3ZahYZDRh

[Jambier]

It is surprisingly close for now, between the top 4, with every team being better in one area.
I believe this season more than ever, in season dev will be the key.

I'm very excited because I expect a 2012 like start of season, with many many different winner

[venkyhere]

[FittingMechanics]

This comparison with Verstappen is a good one. Started at roughly the same time (maybe idea for devs, if you have time of day for laps, allow matching if laps/stints that were done at the same time. Or at least offsetting them in the chart to line it up.

Btw I won't be surprised if Norris is able to run a better race sim than Piastri. At this point in time it seems Norris is handling these cars better. I hope we see a full uninterrupted race sim from him, he should be running in the afternoon session.

[the EDGE]

Any ideas on why there was higher deg on Oscars C1 stint compared to his C2? I though the C1 would be more consistent, especially with less fuel in the car

Could it be because the c1 just doesn’t suit the track as well as the c2, or maybe the C1 a used tyre?