2025 McLaren F1 Team

[geogate]

looked a very good day. Not making any predictions as to where anyone else is, but the "radical" geometry seems to be performing to expectation. An extremely bias perspective but it just looked like they could pump in a fast time at will. I am hopeful.

[bauc]

No they don’t have equal footing, but they wouldn’t say McLaren has some input on the design phase if that wasn’t true to some degree, which what the guy was denying.

In any case, this was McLaren’s best choice. They get one of the power units which will likely be close to the best, if not the best, while also having more input than a normal customer.

They considered RBPT for a short while, but RBPT is way too inexperienced and I doubt they will be competitive in 2026, whereas a Ferrari-powered McLaren will never happen.

The only other option was to develop it themselves like RedBull, but it’s too late for that. It could be a consideration for the next reg cycle, assuming McLaren keeps an upward trend.

The guy wasn't denying that, though. Only arguing about the degree to which it was actually true. Because this is all about nuance and degrees of truth, if you yourself even agree that they aren't on equal footing. You simply side on the collaboration being much stronger, while the other person believing the collaboration being less strong. You're not fundamentally disagreeing on the core argument here, which you've been trying to portray them as doing, and the only reason I felt like speaking up.

McLaren have a more preferential deal with Mercedes vs other customer teams by the looks of it. It allows for a certain degree of input on the PU design, helpful when you build your own gearboxes. And it sounds like they might be first in the queue for newer parts that the works team will obviously get first. I'd not call it a semi works team deal. More like an Enhanced Customer Deal. At the end of the day, if the Mercedes F1 team wins the constructors or McLaren does? Still great marketing for Mercedes "Look even a customer team can win with a Mercedes AMG HPP Engine in F1".

It could well be a great move by Zak Brown signing a new deal with Mercedes for the PU's. We'll find out in '26.

Mclaren already has a deal with Mercedes till 2030

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/arti ... 4r4mi0vhT5

[bauc]

Interesting way to hide flow wiz in the pit box

https://x.com/i/status/1894797620066832730

[MTudor]

Are we actually good at the start of the season ?!
Happy days

[proteus]

When was the last time we topped a day of testing?

2013, 2018

[Emag]

When was the last time we topped a day of testing?

2013, 2018

I am fairly certain Lando topped one of the Barcelona testing sessions back in 2022 as well. So yeah ... history has not been kind to McLarens which lead a pre season testing day

[Macklaren]

When was the last time we topped a day of testing?

2013, 2018

Not relevant because we have enough sponsors now

[CjC]

Lando is looking to push the car a bit more over the next few days.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/arti ... bSXdR.html

[the EDGE]

Lando is looking to push the car a bit more over the next few days.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/arti ... bSXdR.html

“ A good, fun day”

Definitely the first time Lando’s ever been able to say that after a day testing

[Emag]

Unfortunately it looks like it's going to rain tomorrow. Precipitation likelihood has fallen to 35%, but I still think we might get a drizzle at the very least which may take away 2 hours of very representative running at the end of the day tomorrow.

[Emag]

That front end is really responsive. Particularly apparent on T4, T8 and the last corner. They might not end up being the fastest come Austrlia, but at least the car (so far) doesn't seem to have a jarring weakness. I remember for a long time while McLaren was on the up from the midfield, the main weakness to the top teams always was front-end reactivity.

This doesn't look sluggish at all on rotation. Especially considering that the car was (probably) fueled for at least 1/3 of a race here.

[CjC]

On Teds notebook Zak said that there is some stuff on the Mclaren that hasn’t been totally noticed yet (innovation wise)…..

[CjC]

That front end is really responsive. Particularly apparent on T4 and the last corner. They might not end up being the fastest come Austrlia, but at least the car (so far) doesn't seem to have a jarring weakness. I remember for a long time while McLaren was on the up from the midfield, the main weakness to the top teams always was front-end reactivity.

This doesn't look sluggish at all on rotation. Especially considering that the car was (probably) fueled for at least 1/3 of a race here.

Thanks for sharing.
Man how I have missed these onboard push laps!

[101FlyingDutchman]

That front end is really responsive. Particularly apparent on T4, T8 and the last corner. They might not end up being the fastest come Austrlia, but at least the car (so far) doesn't seem to have a jarring weakness. I remember for a long time while McLaren was on the up from the midfield, the main weakness to the top teams always was front-end reactivity.

This doesn't look sluggish at all on rotation. Especially considering that the car was (probably) fueled for at least 1/3 of a race here.

That lap time seems to come ridiculously easy. Front end is so responsive you see NOR nearly turn in a couple of times too soon. Rear stable too. Seems last years times are going to be destroyed by more than 0.75s at times

[elldizzle]

That lap was unreal, effortless. Not really pushing either. Engine note sounded like it was turned down to me, not sure on fuel load as the turn in was very responsive so maybe on the lower side. That mid corner rotation!..so good. Great traction on exit too. Would be very keen to see Russell and Leclerc's onboards.