2025 McLaren F1 Team

[Avocado]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GjqULXSXgAA ... name=large

Looks Horrible...

It looks incredible. I hope it stays the same.

[mwillems]

McLaren made 'aggressive and fundamental' changes to its title-winning F1 car

I thought the key quote was this:

But ultimately, we actually went for a relatively challenging approach in terms of how much innovation is in this car. This is predominantly to gain aerodynamic efficiency. At the same time, we still wanted to make some improvements in terms of interaction with the tyres, and what you can do to improve long-run pace."

Worth noting..

The team had previously (recently) stated that they found Synergy between the 25 and 26 regs and that they focused on these areas to get some 26 learning done.

[BMMR61]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GjqULXSXgAA ... name=large

Looks Horrible...

Forget the messy "camo" patterns, they are required to hold back their actual 2025 livery until the official launch next Tuesday.

For all the 'not anything radically different' I (for once) disagree. The immediate at a glance distinguishing point is the airbox. Then there's the much much straighter sidepod profile - looks like this could be a very effective and less draggy feature. The front suspension is really different. It looks like the chassis has been made more compact to allow for the aero shapes shown. The wings are straight off the MCL38 but these are just part of a parts list which may (probably) or may not even be in the 2025 spec sheet.

Let's hope with confidence that McLaren will hit the ground running with the car out of the blocks, unlike its two predecessors. To have a very sharply evolved car this early is exciting.

[mclaren111]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GjqULXSXgAA ... name=large

Looks Horrible...

Forget the messy "camo" patterns, they are required to hold back their actual 2025 livery until the official launch next Tuesday.

For all the 'not anything radically different' I (for once) disagree. The immediate at a glance distinguishing point is the airbox. Then there's the much much straighter sidepod profile - looks like this could be a very effective and less draggy feature. The front suspension is really different. It looks like the chassis has been made more compact to allow for the aero shapes shown. The wings are straight off the MCL38 but these are just part of a parts list which may (probably) or may not even be in the 2025 spec sheet.

Let's hope with confidence that McLaren will hit the ground running with the car out of the blocks, unlike its two predecessors. To have a very sharply evolved car this early is exciting.

I'm revering to Lando's overall in attached pic... Not the car...

[BMMR61]

Yeah, to be fair I looks like a touring motorcycle suit!

[Emag]

McLaren issue flexi-front wing update ahead of latest FIA clampdown

[mythr-ran-dire]

McLaren made 'aggressive and fundamental' changes to its title-winning F1 car

I thought the key quote was this:

But ultimately, we actually went for a relatively challenging approach in terms of how much innovation is in this car. This is predominantly to gain aerodynamic efficiency. At the same time, we still wanted to make some improvements in terms of interaction with the tyres, and what you can do to improve long-run pace."

Worth noting..

The team had previously (recently) stated that they found Synergy between the 25 and 26 regs and that they focused on these areas to get some 26 learning done.

Interesting, I expected this would be the case. It is still frustratingly unclear (to me, at least), where these synergies may lie. My guess is that a lot of the learning around underbody downforce and side pod flow conditioning will carry over.

Also, the start of another annual ritual lurking in these forums learning about the cars and teams from everyone here. I have missed this very much.

[ScottR267]

Mentioned on the first page but just illustratively shows sponsors won and lost over the winter

[mwillems]

I thought the key quote was this:

Worth noting..

The team had previously (recently) stated that they found Synergy between the 25 and 26 regs and that they focused on these areas to get some 26 learning done.

Interesting, I expected this would be the case. It is still frustratingly unclear (to me, at least), where these synergies may lie. My guess is that a lot of the learning around underbody downforce and side pod flow conditioning will carry over.

Also, the start of another annual ritual lurking in these forums learning about the cars and teams from everyone here. I have missed this very much.

Yeah, will be interesting to see more of the car and understand.

Both Lando and Stella have said the visible changes make it look like the car hasn't changed a lot, but that there are fundamental changes to the layout of the car and a large number of unseen changes that they suggest are the innovation.

Visible changes are largely about airflow getting underneath the car and to the back.

The magic is happening elsewhere.

[Emag]

Pretty sure this article was posted before, but I missed something in my first read.

Apparently Andrea was asked about the potential gains of the MCL39 and he had this to say :

According to the McLaren team principal, the MCL39 is a step forward equivalent to all of last season’s upgrades – so approximately half a second.

The, "approximately half a second", is an estimation made from the article writer, however I am not so sure that is a correct assessment. The first couple of races (before the Miami package), the MCL38 was not an impressive car by any means. So, if Andrea really said the MCL39 is a step forward equivalent to ALL of last season's upgrades, which would include the Miami package, then if that actually translates on track, it could definitely be more than half a second.

[mwillems]

When interviewed by Sky last week he said a few tenths of a second. Who knows what that amounts to, but 4 to 5 tenths would seem to fit the bill.

But they do have a history of underestimating the gains by circa 30 to 40% so...

[the EDGE]

The actual quote

“So the 2025 car on the paper should be a decent step forward,” said Team Principal Andrea Stella. “But if I look from far enough, I think this step forward is actually on a linear trend to some of the other upgrades or developments that we took in 2023 – Austria, Singapore – and then in 2024, for instance, with the Miami, and then later on Mexico and Austin.

“I think this 2025 car, at least for what we see in our numbers, should be just along this line, which is good news itself. It means we have not run out of steam.”

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/arti ... A508elwpql

[FittingMechanics]

That is a massive upgrade if that is true. No team improved that much in those years.

[Emag]

Well, it really depends on what the competition is doing. For example, rumors from Ferrari were saying they gained 1s in in the simulator, but Ferrari winter rumors are very unreliable. Half a second is good given the restricted nature of the regulation + this being the last year of these ruleset, but it only remains good until someone manages to find even more.

[Macklaren]

Well, it really depends on what the competition is doing. For example, rumors from Ferrari were saying they gained 1s in in the simulator, but Ferrari winter rumors are very unreliable. Half a second is good given the restricted nature of the regulation + this being the last year of these ruleset, but it only remains good until someone manages to find even more.

Pretty sure the Ferrari "1s in the simulator" rumor is an annual tradition over there.
But they are doing some big changes so let's see