2025 McLaren F1 Team

[Space-heat]

So it's either on the car or fully validated and ready to go onto the car. If the changes are just making the wing more rigid, they didn't need to declare it so it could have been tested a while ago. Does anyone remember McLaren using flowviz on the front wing/brakes in recent races?

Won't it be hilarious if 9 teams bring a new front wing this weekend and only McLaren don't?

Teams don't need to declare a new FW if the geometry doesn't change.

Ferrari introduced their flexi wing at COTA last year. However, it wasn't included in the FIA document, as the change only involved adjusting the orientation of the carbon fibre to allow for more deformation, while the wing's geometry remained the same as the previous version.

https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files ... ssions.pdf

[deargodhelpme]

What happened to Piastri last year in Spain? Was there a difference in car spec?

IIRC he indicated that they made a mistake with setup and couldn't put the lap together.

[FittingMechanics]

I'm listening to a podcast by The Race and I'm surprised to hear that Will Courtenay is not on gardening leave.

I guess it makes sense though, he is a strategy guy, it's not like they are developing strategies for next year.

[mwillems]

Lol. He's likely not carrying IP for the new regs, it won't be hard to separate him from the new development and still get plenty of use on the pit wall.

Im hoping it will be a step change in the race management.

[Seerix]

It would take some “step” to suddenly become the car to beat when you are facing that kind of dominance.

This word.
It's considered "capital offence" in the McLaren team thread. Allegedly, anyone who uses this word to describe the MCL39 hasn't got a clue about F1.

Guys look what you made him do. You have to stop telling people your opinion or they will go elsewhere and complain :/

[Darth-Piekus]

It's best if he complains somewhere else instead of trying to start a fire due to difference of opinions.

PhillipM Im not sure if you see every message but did the team decide to hurry the upgrade package for Spain or are they keeping it for the next GP?

[AR3-GP]

Last week:

Sky Italy commentator said they spoke with Andrea Stella who told them off records "I'm looking forward to Barcelona to show we will demolish them" they are confident it won't change a thing.

Stella this week:

“We head to the Spanish Grand Prix encouraged by our result in Monaco. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya offers a very different challenge, however, with many high-speed corners which will not naturally suit the characteristics of the MCL39. With this also comes the expectation to see many challenges from the rest of the grid and close battles at the front.

https://www.mclaren.com/racing/formula- ... x-preview/

[CjC]

I thought it didn’t sound like a very Stella type quote.
Regarding the Mclaren vs Max battle I wouldn’t be surprised to see a repeat of the Imola situation but OF COURSE if Mclaren don’t win it’ll be because of the new TD

[mwillems]

Mclaren have a revised front wing for Spain.

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/what ... revisions/

[venkyhere]

The Redbull, Mercedes & Ferrari are ping-pong cars -> they are not consistent with their 'balance' and tyre characteristics. The only 'consistently fast' car is the McLaren. Which indirectly means, the team with the least 'worry' has to be McLaren. They will win more than 2/3rd of the races this season.

[Darth-Piekus]

It could be worse. It could be a dominating RB19 car who could win by half a lap losing only one race or an MP4-4 who also lost one race by sheer luck and winning with an 1 lap average pace. I suppose its not bad if we can win 2/3rds now.

[Luscion]

[CjC]

Further confirming my beliefs.
A compliant wing has been run at some point recently. Most likely when Lando ran the high DF rear wing at the beginning FP3 in Imola.

At no point did I ever think that a Spain compliant wing was used in a competitive session.

[Luscion]

Further confirming my beliefs.
A compliant wing has been run at some point recently. Most likely when Lando ran the high DF rear wing at the beginning FP3 in Imola.

At no point did I ever think that a Spain compliant wing was used in a competitive session.

FP1 in Imola apparently

[AR3-GP]

Further confirming my beliefs.
A compliant wing has been run at some point recently. Most likely when Lando ran the high DF rear wing at the beginning FP3 in Imola.

At no point did I ever think that a Spain compliant wing was used in a competitive session.

For what it's worth, I don't see it on the car during the rear wing test from FP3 in Imola. It's a little blurry in the still photo, but in the video it's clear that it's the old wing.