2025 McLaren F1 Team

[CjC]

Hardly confidence inspiring from Stella:

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mclar ... /10706104/

The car has a limitation which he won’t specify that can’t be rectified.
He’s also confirmed my concerns before Australia, where in Landos case he can’t extract 100% of the cars potential…

It’s ok for now but if the other teams find more laptime than Mclaren through in season developments and become on par with the MCL39 we’ll see McLaren come out of quali in particular on the wrong side of a result.

[Ben1980]

The worry is they have gone into a red bull rabbit hole. And made a fast car with a narrow working range.

Hopefully they can learn a bit more.

But, they did say would be aggressive with the car.

[CjC]

True that @Ben1980

For me I won’t settle on a pecking/ which circuit will suit which car order till after the Spanish GP once the tighter flex front wing tests are in force.
McLaren have said it will only be a small change for them to comply but only time will tell

[Emag]

Hardly confidence inspiring from Stella:

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mclar ... /10706104/

The car has a limitation which he won’t specify that can’t be rectified.
He’s also confirmed my concerns before Australia, where in Landos case he can’t extract 100% of the cars potential…

It’s ok for now but if the other teams find more laptime than Mclaren through in season developments and become on par with the MCL39 we’ll see McLaren come out of quali in particular on the wrong side of a result.

You can see it on Oscar’s pole lap video. Right before he gets into T2. The car is too much on the nose and the rear can’t cope with it. The moment you try to induce rotation under braking, you have to be careful because the rear may snap out.

I have a feeling Max would love to drive this car.

[bauc]

Hardly confidence inspiring from Stella:

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mclar ... /10706104/

The car has a limitation which he won’t specify that can’t be rectified.
He’s also confirmed my concerns before Australia, where in Landos case he can’t extract 100% of the cars potential…

It’s ok for now but if the other teams find more laptime than Mclaren through in season developments and become on par with the MCL39 we’ll see McLaren come out of quali in particular on the wrong side of a result.

I think you are overreacting a bit here, it's just a combination of having only 1 training session on a fresh tarmac which gives super grip but kills your fronts immediately and this in a new car which we are still learing how to extract the best out of it means that this can send you off in a wrong direction in terms of set up, which clearly Mclaren have done thus their performance in the sprint. After the sprint they made a noticeable change and they are back in the game, and I'm hopeful we can get 1-2 tomorrow.

The fact that both NOR and PIA can extract this car's maximum (well most of the time) means we have not fallen into the RBR rabbit hole, I will hold my judgment until we get one normal clean weekend in the standard format without crazy wheatear or sprint format to say if we are going in the wrong direction or no.

[CjC]

Hardly confidence inspiring from Stella:

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mclar ... /10706104/

The car has a limitation which he won’t specify that can’t be rectified.
He’s also confirmed my concerns before Australia, where in Landos case he can’t extract 100% of the cars potential…

It’s ok for now but if the other teams find more laptime than Mclaren through in season developments and become on par with the MCL39 we’ll see McLaren come out of quali in particular on the wrong side of a result.

I think you are overreacting a bit here, it's just a combination of having only 1 training session on a fresh tarmac which gives super grip but kills your fronts immediately and this in a new car which we are still learing how to extract the best out of it means that this can send you off in a wrong direction in terms of set up, which clearly Mclaren have done thus their performance in the sprint. After the sprint they made a noticeable change and they are back in the game, and I'm hopeful we can get 1-2 tomorrow.

The fact that both NOR and PIA can extract this car's maximum (well most of the time) means we have not fallen into the RBR rabbit hole, I will hold my judgment until we get one normal clean weekend in the standard format without crazy wheatear or sprint format to say if we are going in the wrong direction or no.

Points well made to be fair.
I was just sharing my concerns that the car does have a limitation that is essentially ‘baked in’. If driving at 99% keeps them clear at the front then I’m fine with that, not counting the sprint, only a mega lap from Russell has beaten a McLaren so far

[mwillems]

Wasn't Stella also saying that this trait hurts Norris due to his driving style?

Both have specifically mentioned the front as the issue, in that it is struggling with heavy breaking on turn in, which is demonstrated in the first long corner and probably why his line is different in the final hairpin, and why he's getting front lockups and why they both got such front graining.

I feel like it's a bit of a first world problem. Both drivers have the car they need to do the job. No car is perfect, but I'm sure the team will bring an update to help it.

In terms of edginess, most teams have said that the surface itself seems responsible for some of the general peakiness.

[mwillems]

Indeed, here is Norris confirming the front is not robust enough under braking and that he has taken to focusing on the exits instead of entry, which goes against his driving style.

Whilst the rear isn't perfect, I don't think it's the main issue with the car, though it is at times an issue at Shanghai.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mcla ... /10705544/

This was intentional from the team who designed the fastest car they could without focusing on what a driver wants, to flatter their style.

I remember saying last week that the car was excelling on the exits from corners, and this is why. This is how Lando has figured to get the most from this car.

So it seems any track that uses heavy amounts of trailbraking will see us vulnerable.

But still more than fast enough for a result.

[Darth-Piekus]

On one hand having cars close to each other can separate men from the boys but on the other hand what I wouldn't give to win every single race comfortably without having to worry about the competition.

[Ben1980]

Indeed, here is Norris confirming the front is not robust enough under braking and that he has taken to focusing on the exits instead of entry, which goes against his driving style.

Whilst the rear isn't perfect, I don't think it's the main issue with the car, though it is at times an issue at Shanghai.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mcla ... /10705544/

This was intentional from the team who designed the fastest car they could without focusing on what a driver wants, to flatter their style.

I remember saying last week that the car was excelling on the exits from corners, and this is why. This is how Lando has figured to get the most from this car.

So it seems any track that uses heavy amounts of trailbraking will see us vulnerable.

But still more than fast enough for a result.

Is this a Shanghai problem?

[mwillems]

The way the team describe it, it's not a problem, it's a trait, but the circuit tests and and i think the new sutface is increasing the difficulty for Lando. The car can carry speed through corners, it's just not great at shedding speed in them. So brake early, carry kph at the apex and that speed improves your exit, in this car the exit speed reduces overall lap time more than you lose by having a longer braking zones. As i was saying last week, driven like this, the car destroyed everyone in the corners. I just didnt realise it was forced on them.

The nose is strong as is plain to see, if you drive in this style, it seems.

Longer corners like 1 and 2 though, you can't avoid trail braking and if Lando is struggling to adapt then this explains the red circles I put around corners 1,2 and 6 and green 14 on the telemetry earlier. His different line is not slow at 14 though, but it could make him susceptible to attacks.

Yes, he can put a lap together amd sometimes drive around it, but this is where he is struggling.

Honestly it's not that big a deal, he'll adapt and the car is fast.

Japan has turn 1 and 2 that or long braking zones so he's going to need to practise


This also explains why the car is improved in high fuel, where trail braking is less intensive due to a heavier car. This forces drivers to break earlier and to be a bit more conservative with trail braking so the race will come more to us, sprint setups and dirty air not withstanding.

[mwillems]

Interesting that Stella said after Australia that China would suit us. Perhaps the high grip surface surprised him as it enables and rewards trail braking more, not sure.

[Darth-Piekus]

16 minutes until the race starts. Good luck to both drivers.

[ScottR267]

Perfect start for the team

[Avocado]

All great for now. Let's keep our fingers crossed.