2025 McLaren F1 Team

[CjC]

I also feel that they are a bit scary of going down the Red Bull path, making the car unstable in search of performance. Expecting upgrades in Imola ?

That is certainly a point of caution isn it.
I would expect to see something in Imola. I thought I read somewhere Stella saying that there would be an update in Miami- nothing was disclosed on the upgrade sheet so that’s why I’m expecting something in Imola, unless it didn’t need disclosing in Miami.

[BMMR61]

A commentator I heard on livestream said there was a 6 degree drop in temps from Q1 to Q3. Enough to make an already a tricky car at the limit hard to nail the optimum braking points around the circuit. Max is not confident of keeping the inters alive if the rain predicted for the GP arrives, so I'd take a shot at Lando getting the win. Oscar on the other hand has been dynamic off the startling so it's all still to play for.

[BMMR61]

I also feel that they are a bit scary of going down the Red Bull path, making the car unstable in search of performance. Expecting upgrades in Imola ?

That is certainly a point of caution isn it.
I would expect to see something in Imola. I thought I read somewhere Stella saying that there would be an update in Miami- nothing was disclosed on the upgrade sheet so that’s why I’m expecting something in Imola, unless it didn’t need disclosing in Miami.

Stella said they had seen something after 6 weekends about the issue of maximum pace and losing feel of the limit. This drivability they are seeking (Oscar now seems to be quietly concurring) is easy to say but one of the trickiest characteristics to simulate and correct. In my opinion.

[SilviuAgo]

Found this picture with the two sets of inters taken off from McLaren cars after they pitted in the Sprint Race.



The tires on the right are Piastri's, those on the left are Lando's, who was pressuring Oscar when they were called to the pits. Very different wear and degradation for such a small difference in strategy. Lando has been lucky, but it hasn't been just that.

[Chuckjr]

If you recall I flagged this in pre-season. Now that we are at the 6th round a pattern is emerging like Stella suggests. We are having ‘challenging/ disappointing’ Saturdays either being on pole or within a tenth of pole! Then the car is better in the race.

I described the car as ‘confidence-sapping’ on the short runs in testing, that may not be the correct phrase but the drivers are struggling.
Verstappen is running his new floor this weekend, without that he wouldn’t be on pole. I said pre- Miami that I thought McLaren will only upgrade if they think they don’t have the fastest car…. I think that needs re-evaluating- I’ve always thought to beat Max you need a clear car advantage and with the current driver quali struggles- McLaren need a few more tenths.

You nailed it. Well done sir.

[CjC]

I also feel that they are a bit scary of going down the Red Bull path, making the car unstable in search of performance. Expecting upgrades in Imola ?

That is certainly a point of caution isn it.
I would expect to see something in Imola. I thought I read somewhere Stella saying that there would be an update in Miami- nothing was disclosed on the upgrade sheet so that’s why I’m expecting something in Imola, unless it didn’t need disclosing in Miami.

Stella said they had seen something after 6 weekends about the issue of maximum pace and losing feel of the limit. This drivability they are seeking (Oscar now seems to be quietly concurring) is easy to say but one of the trickiest characteristics to simulate and correct. In my opinion.

Yea. If it’s achievable Mclaren need to upgrade enough so the drivers can drive at 98% of the cars potential and still have enough pace to be on pole by a tenth and a half but that means they need to find 3 to 4 tenths more than the other teams upgrades- however I feel to achieve this amount it would take too much resource away from the 2026 development.

[Ben1980]

Found this picture with the two sets of inters taken off from McLaren cars after they pitted in the Sprint Race.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GqCulx-WkAE ... name=large

The tires on the right are Piastri's, those on the left are Lando's, who was pressuring Oscar when they were called to the pits. Very different wear and degradation for such a small difference in strategy. Lando has been lucky, but it hasn't been just that.

If Lando had sat about 3 seconds back, or Oscar managed his tyres. They likely stop on the same lap and Oscar wins. So, while lucky, Lando did put himself in position to be lucky.

[mwillems]

If you recall I flagged this in pre-season. Now that we are at the 6th round a pattern is emerging like Stella suggests. We are having ‘challenging/ disappointing’ Saturdays either being on pole or within a tenth of pole! Then the car is better in the race.

I described the car as ‘confidence-sapping’ on the short runs in testing, that may not be the correct phrase but the drivers are struggling.
Verstappen is running his new floor this weekend, without that he wouldn’t be on pole. I said pre- Miami that I thought McLaren will only upgrade if they think they don’t have the fastest car…. I think that needs re-evaluating- I’ve always thought to beat Max you need a clear car advantage and with the current driver quali struggles- McLaren need a few more tenths.

Yes there's a lot that has been clear. I do expect the drivers to do better with it though, Lando mainly as he's having way more issues than Oscar. But I did suspect that the car would become a little trickier to drive here at Miami given that this is the configuration that hurt any previous car that didn't like to brake on entry to the corner. I was expecting issues but didn't see them in SQ. But in the post SQ discourse we talked about the car not yet being fully dialled in and I very nearly posted that I think we might see some issues, but thought better of it.

[Ben1980]

On the plus side, I've not heard the term dominant used much this weekend.

[Darth-Piekus]

People tend to go driver this and driver that overhyping Max again at the expense of our drivers and at the same time the car needs an update to fix that Q3 occuring problem and unlock that 100%. It happened in every single qualifying and too many times to be only the driver's fault.

[mwillems]

Found this picture with the two sets of inters taken off from McLaren cars after they pitted in the Sprint Race.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GqCulx-WkAE ... name=large

The tires on the right are Piastri's, those on the left are Lando's, who was pressuring Oscar when they were called to the pits. Very different wear and degradation for such a small difference in strategy. Lando has been lucky, but it hasn't been just that.

That's a very precise contact patch. Wonder what other teams tyres looked like.

Huge difference compared to Lando, he really cooked them. But then I noticed he wasn't even going back to the wet patches to cool his tyres and Lando was. Very odd, why would he not do that?? Or perhaps it was just when I was looking!

[mwillems]

People tend to go driver this and driver that overhyping Max again at the expense of our drivers and at the same time the car needs an update to fix that Q3 occuring problem and unlock that 100%. It happened in every single qualifying and too many times to be only the driver's fault.

Car needs to be better.

Drivers need to be better.

It's the point I've made since very early in the season, it isn't just one thing. Anyone point the finger squarely at the car or squarely at the drivers but it doesn't work like that.

[Paa]

[quote=CjC post_id=1282771

Yea. If it’s achievable Mclaren need to upgrade enough so the drivers can drive at 98% of the cars potential and still have enough pace to be on pole by a tenth and a half but that means they need to find 3 to 4 tenths more than the other teams upgrades- however I feel to achieve this amount it would take too much resource away from the 2026 development.
[/quote]

That does't work like that. Oscar and Lando are each others main competitors, so they'll have to use 100% of the car's potential to get pole, no matter how big advantage they would get over the other teams.

[Slahinki]

Found this picture with the two sets of inters taken off from McLaren cars after they pitted in the Sprint Race.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GqCulx-WkAE ... name=large

The tires on the right are Piastri's, those on the left are Lando's, who was pressuring Oscar when they were called to the pits. Very different wear and degradation for such a small difference in strategy. Lando has been lucky, but it hasn't been just that.

Wow, the difference really is staggering. Looking at this without context you'd never guess which pair spent the whole stint in dirty air.

[Emag]

Found this picture with the two sets of inters taken off from McLaren cars after they pitted in the Sprint Race.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GqCulx-WkAE ... name=large

The tires on the right are Piastri's, those on the left are Lando's, who was pressuring Oscar when they were called to the pits. Very different wear and degradation for such a small difference in strategy. Lando has been lucky, but it hasn't been just that.

Wow, the difference really is staggering. Looking at this without context you'd never guess which pair spent the whole stint in dirty air.

Lando has always been really good in tire management since 2021 I would say (perhaps even earlier in his career, but 2021 is when it was most obvious).

The guy is all-over the place this year and has been making a lot of mistakes on critical moments, but you got to give him credit when credit is due.