2025 McLaren F1 Team

[f1isgood]

Seems a plausible theory given McLaren don't suffer as much from thermal degradation as the others. On the other hand, it could also simply be explained by the fact that the car has more consistent downforce in general which will also have a similar effect I think.

[AR3-GP]

The RB19 and the SF24 had good tire management but they had tradeoffs. They lacked pace in qualifying trim because the car was slow to put energy into the tires (which was good for the race)

The MCL-39 seems very different. They are always very fast in qualifying and never suffer from cold tires. It is like a thermostat system where they put energy into the tires very quickly, but the heat source appears to "shut-off" once the tire reaches optimum temperature.

[CjC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn-nBA-WWyU


Interesting video.

Amazing for us Mclaren fans of true.
Rob Marshall did say pre-season that the greatest innovation on the MCL39 is deeply hidden within the car.

I’m surprised the author didn’t mention Red Bull during the comparisons in the video…

[CjC]

The RB19 and the SF24 had good tire management but they had tradeoffs. They lacked pace in qualifying trim because the car was slow to put energy into the tires (which was good for the race)

The MCL-39 seems very different. They are always very fast in qualifying and never suffer from cold tires. It is like a thermostat system where they put energy into the tires very quickly, but the heat source appears to "shut-off" once the tire reaches optimum temperature.

Heat temperature flexi ducts?

[f1isgood]

The RB19 and the SF24 had good tire management but they had tradeoffs. They lacked pace in qualifying trim because the car was slow to put energy into the tires (which was good for the race)

The MCL-39 seems very different. They are always very fast in qualifying and never suffer from cold tires. It is like a thermostat system where they put energy into the tires very quickly, but the heat source appears to "shut-off" once the tire reaches optimum temperature.

Valid observation.

[BMMR61]

Matt Somerfield is of a similar opinion about the brake "nest" on Missed Apex Podcast yesterday.
McLaren's advantage discussed from 12 minutes.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr9SKUJtWqc

That earlier video mentioned by DeWet states that to catch up with this tech advance will not be practically viable for most teams given the cost cap and the major investments into 2026. With Red Bull though there is an urgency to "give Max a car he can win with" and of course the WDC for him is well viable. Maybe Mercedes and Ferrari will soon be turning their attentions away if the current trends continue.

[BMMR61]

The RB19 and the SF24 had good tire management but they had tradeoffs. They lacked pace in qualifying trim because the car was slow to put energy into the tires (which was good for the race)

The MCL-39 seems very different. They are always very fast in qualifying and never suffer from cold tires. It is like a thermostat system where they put energy into the tires very quickly, but the heat source appears to "shut-off" once the tire reaches optimum temperature.

Heat temperature flexi ducts?

FIA to institute new measurements at behest of Red Bull? LOL.
Somerfield proposed that there may be some connection way back at Bahrain 2023 where McLaren had extreme issues with brake overheating. A major innovation introduced too young? Obviously a huge amount of R and D is behind this sort of advance and it's entirely independent of the normal aero considerations even if it is actually an internal aero development.

[AR3-GP]

Matt Somerfield is of a similar opinion about the brake "nest" on Missed Apex Podcast yesterday.
McLaren's advantage discussed from 12 minutes.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr9SKUJtWqc

That earlier video mentioned by DeWet states that to catch up with this tech advance will not be practically viable for most teams given the cost cap and the major investments into 2026. With Red Bull though there is an urgency to "give Max a car he can win with" and of course the WDC for him is well viable. Maybe Mercedes and Ferrari will soon be turning their attentions away if the current trends continue.

The technology carries over to 2026. Also, windtunnel time used for brake cooling is unrestricted/unlimited