2025 McLaren F1 Team

[Mansell89]

Tomorrow is all about squaring off George Russell.

Nobody else is in the same postcode so go out, execute our normal race, and get it done.

[venkyhere]

Guys, remember Austria 2024 ? Redbull made some final changes to the car before Q and Max got pole by 0.4s over the Mclarens. It was a shocking margin then, and Helmut Marko said "we have the set up the car for race, actually". And we saw how the car ate it's tyres and went backwards in the race. Marko has made a similar statement yesterday, after the 0.2s Q margin. It might well be a repeat case, and all the discussion we are having about what Max will do, is making a big assumption that he has similar/better race pace than the Mclarens. That well might not be the case.

[Shader]

Guys, remember Austria 2024 ? Redbull made some final changes to the car before Q and Max got pole by 0.4s over the Mclarens. It was a shocking margin then, and Helmut Marko said "we have the set up the car for race, actually". And we saw how the car ate it's tyres and went backwards in the race. Marko has made a similar statement yesterday, after the 0.2s Q margin. It might well be a repeat case, and all the discussion we are having about what Max will do, is making a big assumption that he has similar/better race pace than the Mclarens. That well might not be the case.

If I learned anything these years it's that Markos talk should be taken as pure nonsense.

Concerning the team... Oscar has no choice, as well as Max, they both need a win. Lando on the other side, needs a come and collected race. I just hope Russel does not play a factor today.... he tends to lurk around lately.

Let's wish the best for the team, and may one of our drivers become a champion today

[kc_f1]

Alright, lets bring it home. Come on Lando!

[Ben1980]

Guys, remember Austria 2024 ? Redbull made some final changes to the car before Q and Max got pole by 0.4s over the Mclarens. It was a shocking margin then, and Helmut Marko said "we have the set up the car for race, actually". And we saw how the car ate it's tyres and went backwards in the race. Marko has made a similar statement yesterday, after the 0.2s Q margin. It might well be a repeat case, and all the discussion we are having about what Max will do, is making a big assumption that he has similar/better race pace than the Mclarens. That well might not be the case.

Max being on pole was more i portrait fir him over Lando. So does make sense they may have gone a bit more for one lap speed.

[mwillems]

We will know if Lando can get past Max and make a gap. It will be simpler if that happens!

Hopefully it's straight forward and Max can't influence.

This RB is better with its tyres and clean air will

[venkyhere]

But also consider how Max did the entire Q2 with old tyres from Q1 - he was P2 in Q2. If the setup was indeed burning up the tyres, he wouldn't have been able to do that, I think.
Anyway, "we don't know" is the realistic answer to 'what will be the race pace like' ; which brings us back to square 1. There is so much unpredictability. I just wanted to highlight yet another factor to keep in mind.

[SilviuAgo]

I've just re-read the history of AbuDhabi 2021. Same as this year Max was on pole with Lewis and Bottas P2 and P3.
Also in that quali session Max had a big tow from Perez, allowing him the pole.
The difference is that Perez was then P4 and RBR used him more than they are able to use Yuki. But it will be no surprise if Yuki starts the race on Hards, in order to offer a possible wall defence as Perez did to Hamilton back then.
So, imo this race will be between this 3+1 cars, with no interference from Russell or Charles. They already said for the press that they do not want to influence the title result outcome and both are drivers that one day will fight for the title and things are remembered in F1.
Plus, for Mercedes to play in Max favour after that 2021 race will be very ironical.

[_cerber1]

Plus, for Mercedes to play in Max favour after that 2021 race will be very ironical.

It would have been unthinkable for Russell to support Verstappen after his ramming in Barcelona.

[Jurgen von Diaz]

Plus, for Mercedes to play in Max favour after that 2021 race will be very ironical.

It would have been unthinkable for Russell to support Verstappen after his ramming in Barcelona.

George just wants to win. He thinks logically that Max will do the same as Lewis did in 2016, and that presents an opportunity for George to hunt for the win of the race. He doesn't care who else wins the race.

[FittingMechanics]

But also consider how Max did the entire Q2 with old tyres from Q1 - he was P2 in Q2. If the setup was indeed burning up the tyres, he wouldn't have been able to do that, I think.
Anyway, "we don't know" is the realistic answer to 'what will be the race pace like' ; which brings us back to square 1. There is so much unpredictability. I just wanted to highlight yet another factor to keep in mind.

I do think that both McLarens did their first laps on used tires as well (just like Max) but they were cautious and at the end of Q2 they exited on new softs. From what I could tell, Lando aborted before he started the lap and Oscar started the lap but aborted mid way.

I could be wrong as I was watching on my phone, harder to keep track like that.

[mwillems]

Russell has said he will take any opportunity. He doesn't care which driver wins. He just wants to end on a high.

The sustained race pace capability of the RB will determine how this will play. Plus any safety cars. Remember those at AD?


After all is said and done now, watch this race be a procession

The drivers seem to suggest anything is possible, we'll just have to wait and see.

[FittingMechanics]

All this talk of backing up seems unrealistic to me. I just can't see how that would work for Max except maybe in extreme circumstances like the end of the race where Lando is in P3 and Max is P1. Maybe in that case you can take a risk and try to back everyone up on the last few laps. Also with the gaps that will show up it is likely P2 and P3 are on the back of Verstappen much sooner than P4 catches P3 so it would be hard to pull off. I just don't see how it is viable earlier in the race. At that moment, if Max doesn't care about the win it is worth a try even though I would find it very unsportsmanlike and unfair. Red Bull and Max probably wouldn't see it that way so maybe we can expect that.

Another potential for chaos may be safety car restarts. If there are safety cars then it is likely that Max will try and delay the restart as late as possible in order to cause chaos behind him. This is what could be the highest risk factor.

That being said, I do think that everyone except the top 3 and Tsunoda/Racing Bulls will be very careful not to cause a crash with the title contenders.

Trying to keep everyone bunched up probably isn't realistic unless this is a nailed on one stopper.

[search]

But also consider how Max did the entire Q2 with old tyres from Q1 - he was P2 in Q2. If the setup was indeed burning up the tyres, he wouldn't have been able to do that, I think.
Anyway, "we don't know" is the realistic answer to 'what will be the race pace like' ; which brings us back to square 1. There is so much unpredictability. I just wanted to highlight yet another factor to keep in mind.

I do think that both McLarens did their first laps on used tires as well (just like Max) but they were cautious and at the end of Q2 they exited on new softs. From what I could tell, Lando aborted before he started the lap and Oscar started the lap but aborted mid way.

I could be wrong as I was watching on my phone, harder to keep track like that.

yes, you are right. In Q2, Verstappen, Norris and Piastri all set their lap time on used softs from Q1. The later run on new softs was aborted

[FittingMechanics]

Btw how consequential that crash in sprint in COTA may end up being. Both cars out for a risky move for 1 points that lost them 7 and 6 points and then didn't have the data for the race.

Lando with +19 against Max and Oscar with +2 against Max would be a very different race.