2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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Darth-Piekus
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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I'm not sure how I can feel about Lambiasi at Mclaren. On one hand it's a championship winning sign up but on the other hand we don't need toxicity in Mclaren as I won't forget that his behavior almost costed the career of Antonelli last year when armed by his comments some rabid fans sent death threats to the kid.

Macklaren
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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Darth-Piekus wrote:
09 Apr 2026, 20:46
I'm not sure how I can feel about Lambiasi at Mclaren. On one hand it's a championship winning sign up but on the other hand we don't need toxicity in Mclaren as I won't forget that his behavior almost costed the career of Antonelli last year when armed by his comments some rabid fans sent death threats to the kid.
Agreed but that was not his fault. I'd be much more concerned that he's not "papaya rules" compatible after 15 years of Horner culture but Marshall and Courtenay have been and I'm sure Brown/Stella vetted this

Watto
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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Macklaren wrote:
09 Apr 2026, 20:55
Darth-Piekus wrote:
09 Apr 2026, 20:46
I'm not sure how I can feel about Lambiasi at Mclaren. On one hand it's a championship winning sign up but on the other hand we don't need toxicity in Mclaren as I won't forget that his behavior almost costed the career of Antonelli last year when armed by his comments some rabid fans sent death threats to the kid.
Agreed but that was not his fault. I'd be much more concerned that he's not "papaya rules" compatible after 15 years of Horner culture but Marshall and Courtenay have been and I'm sure Brown/Stella vetted this

I think it's toxic fans that cause a lot of that look at Max and Lewis fanboys become toxic against each other despite the fact I think Lewis and Max get along pretty well these days . Or even late last season the Lando/Oscar fanboys became pretty toxic that the team is favouring the other driver. A lot of confirmation bias. None of it came from teh team directly just some peoples reading into things (one I recall was Brown animated with Lando wins and more casual with Oscar wins, considering Brown had been around Lando more, and hired him?) its a non issue just some fans don't see it that was. Early in the season when Lando was struggling some of his fans were angry towards the team thinking OP was. being favoured). I think with these things you have to take with a grain of salt a private conversation between Max and GP much the same with Brown etc. (Some) Fans take it out of context though




As for GP, honestly I think its a non issue he'll adapt to McLarens ways the only caution I would have on that is is this was a way for McLaren to get Max......I'd be curious to see

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WardenOfTheNorth
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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Darth-Piekus wrote:
09 Apr 2026, 20:46
I'm not sure how I can feel about Lambiasi at Mclaren. On one hand it's a championship winning sign up but on the other hand we don't need toxicity in Mclaren as I won't forget that his behavior almost costed the career of Antonelli last year when armed by his comments some rabid fans sent death threats to the kid.
Let's not overstate it, he didn't nearly cost Kiki his career.

The death threats were unforgivable and have no place in society, but GP admitted his comments were wrong and in the heat of the moment.

I also think a Race Engineer's manner and comments in a race can be fed by the attitude of their driver.
"From success, you learn absolutely nothing. From failure and setbacks, conclusions can be drawn." - Niki Lauda

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SilviuAgo
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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mwillems wrote:
09 Apr 2026, 17:48
It'll be interesting to.know the org chart. I assume Stella will continue to report to Zak Brown? Is that something that has been confirmed?


And now, to be fair is obvious things improved after Will Courtenay came, but I still hope Hannah Schmitz will follow :D

Farnborough
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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Many key posts here being filled by Red Bull personnel, almost becoming a Mc Bulls team :D

FittingMechanics
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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mwillems wrote:
09 Apr 2026, 17:56
I ask because technically Stella will no longer be part of the C Suite if he's relinquishing the CRO role.

I also wonder if that means he'll remain a member or report to GP.

I can't imagine the latter, but segregating this role may dikure Stella's authority and position. If this is the case, it would have been done with Stellas blessing. But it is an interesting one. As mentioned, perhaps CRO and TP is too much and Stella doesnt care too much about the stuff above him as the team he works with.

But this is surprising and curious. And with the culture thatb GP came from and the type of team Stella likes to run...

Interesting and surprising.
To me it looks like Stella is offloading part of his current responsibilities (CRO) to GP while at the same time staying team principal (all of them report to him). From their latest statement this is confirmed. This could be a way to prepare long term for Stella leaving this position (maybe he wants to retire in a few years).

So Zak is overall boss (business mainly), Stella is F1 team boss and then you have a gang of people responsible for various parts of the operation.

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mwillems
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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I just hadn't seen the articles and I since saw that GP will report to Stella. So clearly Stella reports to Zak and GP will follow Stellas instruction.

GP will bring a good edge to the racing aspect, a good signing.
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Darth-Piekus
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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I would like to wish a Happy Easter to everyone and I hope the resurrection of Jesus Christ will also jumpstart a Mclaren comeback.

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_cerber1
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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The funny thing is, Stella says the car has no conceptual flaws and just needs development. Big shout out to those panicking at the start of the season. :-"

Waz
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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_cerber1 wrote:
12 Apr 2026, 18:01



The funny thing is, Stella says the car has no conceptual flaws and just needs development. Big shout out to those panicking at the start of the season. :-"
Good argument that they already benefited from the higher compression ratio.

Anyway, it's odd to see comments about GP bringing toxic Red Bull culture. Red Bull were a team that stayed together for a long time. That's not a team with a toxic culture.

Things have changed under new owners, but those team members will integrate easily with another team. Especially McLaren.

Why are fans worried about a signing that will improve the biggest weakness? Pit wall.

johnnycesup
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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_cerber1 wrote:
12 Apr 2026, 18:01



The funny thing is, Stella says the car has no conceptual flaws and just needs development. Big shout out to those panicking at the start of the season. :-"
I'm sure that every conceptual flaw that Indycar has is shared with the entire field.

genarro
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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Guys one question..

I have seen on some less reliable F1 sites that Zak and Oscar have an estranged relationship and Oscar is being mentioned to go away from McLaren and how much of this is true?

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Ground Effect
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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genarro wrote:
13 Apr 2026, 10:10
Guys one question..

I have seen on some less reliable F1 sites that Zak and Oscar have an estranged relationship and Oscar is being mentioned to go away from McLaren and how much of this is true?
My issue with all these stories is that nobody reported it, until GP was announced. Once he was announced, they started making up reports insinuating Max would/could join McLaren. Then they had to suggest who he'd replace, then they remembered Mark Webber has stepped back this year from attending GP's. Then they had to come up with a reason for his stepping back that would support the Max to McLaren rumours and insinuations that they started, and they claimed Zak and Mark/Oscar have a strained relationship, so he's likely to be the one off.
Q: (Stefano Mancini – La Stampa) Kimi, will you help Vettel to win his championship this year?
Kimi Raikkonen: I can only drive one car, obviously. 
@2018 Singapore Grand Prix drivers press conference.

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De Wet
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Re: 2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

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genarro wrote:
13 Apr 2026, 10:10
Guys one question..

I have seen on some less reliable F1 sites that Zak and Oscar have an estranged relationship and Oscar is being mentioned to go away from McLaren and how much of this is true?

Bring Max in to replace him. :D