2025 McLaren F1 Team

[mwillems]

OP wasn't able to go past a LiCo-ing Ferrari. Didn't expect that in 2025 at all. The slump in form is not just a slump, it's like falling off a cliff.

The only silver lining for OP this entire weekend, was that he started from P6, made a place at the start, and kept GR behind (which I think is more so because Mercedes had no pace with full tank fuel and riding higher than they did in the sprint).

This race last year was the point at which Oscar took a 4 race dive in results. I'd say I thought he would be past it, but I'd also say I had an eye on how this season will end with that in mind.

I suspect Mexico is going to be another struggle for the Mclaren due to the altitude making it just like a low downforce track. Brazil which will likely favour us more as will the final 2 races.

If the car and drivers can't do better at a track like Brazil then the title will likely go to Max.

If the Mclaren drivers cannot win in a dry Brazil with almost the entire track filled with long radius corners, then they don't deserve a WDC, frankly. If the track is dry, there is no way the Mclaren isn't winning, unless the drivers screw up.

I don't want to assume. Let's see how the Bull does when set up for this track. I don't doubt it will be close, and it will be a hell of a Barometer.

[pantherxxx]

Last year Piastri didn't have any pace in Mexico track. He was 1 second off the pace in qualy from Norris, and finished only 8th in the race. Considering his recent form, I doubt it will be a good weekend for him.

[Seerix]

Exactly. I saw the race from general feed and also from Lando's car and was the time when from 9.7 the gap increased to 10.5 and knew something happened and was his lock up on T12 and after that Lando just said "Box" and the team received it. So no track limits on that corner, he was more than half of the car within circuit limits.
PS: so yes, we can confirm the info you received is "second hand" and not to be trusted. If was the case for sure he had his penalty, Let's move on to Mexico now.

Lando locking up and calling for box was shown as a replay on F1TV general feed. Not sure how the poster missed it.

Yup, just review now the "RACE in 30' " on F1tv and saw the lock up also on general feed, as DC saying "maybe he had a lock up and this was the reason for asking to box".
Also to mention that the T14 strike was when Leclerc took him wide on the corner after T12 trying to pass. So as Russell said, to have a strike for hard racing and to avoid a collision, or in this case for a lock up when you already losing time, is crazy.

I just saw radio rewind on youtube and there it is, GP telling Max "Lando locked up T12 and went off track" which is obviously incorrect, Max immediately responds "yeah, that's a track limit". I guess there's the source of "second hand" info.

[SilviuAgo]

Lando locking up and calling for box was shown as a replay on F1TV general feed. Not sure how the poster missed it.

Yup, just review now the "RACE in 30' " on F1tv and saw the lock up also on general feed, as DC saying "maybe he had a lock up and this was the reason for asking to box".
Also to mention that the T14 strike was when Leclerc took him wide on the corner after T12 trying to pass. So as Russell said, to have a strike for hard racing and to avoid a collision, or in this case for a lock up when you already losing time, is crazy.

I just saw radio rewind on youtube and there it is, GP telling Max "Lando locked up T12 and went off track" which is obviously incorrect, Max immediately responds "yeah, that's a track limit". I guess there's the source of "second hand" info.

Ya, anyone can make mistakes. Maybe GP was not able to follow accurate both Max and Lando during entire race.
And when I said that Leclerc "took him wide" was not in my intention to accuse Charles of anything. But I consider that as racing and Lando backed off cause realized that move was not able to bring him anything. Anyway is easier for stewards to only count over the line moments instead of doing further analysis during the race. That is what we have so we have to live with it.

[Darth-Piekus]

Any set up preparation for Mexico? Have the team reported ideas of how to counter our straight line speed Achille's Heel?

[SilviuAgo]

Pirelli is to continue its recent trend of skipping tyre compounds in a bid to enliven strategic options in F1, at this weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix.
For Mexico City, Pirelli has opted to shift one step softer vs COTA, with the C2 now serving as the hard, with the C4 as the medium and C5 as the soft.

https://racingnews365.com/pirelli-to-co ... co-city-gp

[SilviuAgo]

And this will be 2/2 for Lando:

Lando Norris will sit out the opening practice session of the weekend in Mexico this weekend, the team has confirmed.
McLaren confirmed earlier this year that IndyCar star Pato O'Ward would make an FP1 appearance at his home event in Mexico. Now, McLaren has communicated that it will be Norris who will watch on from the sidelines before he gets back behind the wheel for FP2.

https://racingnews365.com/lando-norris- ... ity-gp-fp1

[SilviuAgo]

Any set up preparation for Mexico? Have the team reported ideas of how to counter our straight line speed Achille's Heel?

My estimation is that they will try to compensate the straight line deficit in the technical section of the track. Like they did in COTA.

[chrisc90]

Is there any update on the gearbox(s) they changed on the cars after the sprint in cota? Sure I heard Zak say they swapped them.

Could there be a penalty for the box or engine down the line.

[Darth-Piekus]

Is there really nothing Mclaren can bring at the table? Even a special set up or some track specific update that could squeeze something more out of the car?

I'm saying it because the two straights are huge and you need to be able to gain more than whatever the team loses in the straights.

[Ben1980]

Is there really nothing Mclaren can bring at the table? Even a special set up or some track specific update that could squeeze something more out of the car?

I'm saying it because the two straights are huge and you need to be able to gain more than whatever the team loses in the straights.

All cars will have Max downforce setups. Though they then lose it due to the altitude. But don't think they need anything special.

[r85]

Is there really nothing Mclaren can bring at the table? Even a special set up or some track specific update that could squeeze something more out of the car?

I'm saying it because the two straights are huge and you need to be able to gain more than whatever the team loses in the straights.

It's still the most well rounded car on the grid right now, so it's all down to driver execution at this point. Red Bull closed the gap enough for Max to make the difference. Las Vegas is the only race where they'll lack the pace to win.

[Badger]

Is there really nothing Mclaren can bring at the table? Even a special set up or some track specific update that could squeeze something more out of the car?

I'm saying it because the two straights are huge and you need to be able to gain more than whatever the team loses in the straights.

Stella was speaking about a potential upgrade at a local taqueria in Austin after the race. They’ve been experimenting with chili peppers, adding them to the fuel, it apparently adds extra spice to the combustion stroke for more performance. The only downside is the exhaust fumes become noxious, so they could potentially run into trouble with the FIA for “pepper spraying” cars behind.

But other than that I don’t think we are expecting any upgrades.

[Emag]

Is there any update on the gearbox(s) they changed on the cars after the sprint in cota? Sure I heard Zak say they swapped them.

Could there be a penalty for the box or engine down the line.

Typically, we don’t know much about things like these in all other F1 teams but Ferrari and RedBull. For RedBull, I guess there’s many people from within the team who have connections with public outlets (like dr obs). They also seem a bit more “relaxed” with how much they allow to leak out. For Ferrari, the italian media literally busts open the factory to take notes for articles.

For the rest, McLaren included, you mostly rely on what they make public on whatever channel. And what is made public is usually not much (not to mention the obvious bias). Had some guys in the forum who had close contacts within McLaren too for a while (PhillipM). But this forum its not the same it used to be a couple of years ago. He (and others to be fair) was sort of driven away and rarely post nowadays.

[ScottR267]

Is there really nothing Mclaren can bring at the table? Even a special set up or some track specific update that could squeeze something more out of the car?

I'm saying it because the two straights are huge and you need to be able to gain more than whatever the team loses in the straights.

I guess if you keep asking, perhaps something will magically appear.

Anyway see a response from the team as per the below link just to reaffirm.


https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mcla ... /10769983/