2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Spielberg, June 27 - 29

[Bill]

The fact that a 19-year - old rookie, driving the MCL39 for the first time, is already only two-tenths off the best lap shows that McLaren has by far the best car. It might even be more dominant than the 2023 Red Bull - they just don’t have a strong enough driver lineup to consistently maximize points.

Imagine Russell, Verstappen or Leclerc in that car. This championship wouldn't be close.

did you ever consider that maybe he is running low on fuel as a publicity stunt.

[SB15]

The fact that a 19-year - old rookie, driving the MCL39 for the first time, is already only two-tenths off the best lap shows that McLaren has by far the best car. It might even be more dominant than the 2023 Red Bull - they just don’t have a strong enough driver lineup to consistently maximize points.

Imagine Russell, Verstappen or Leclerc in that car. This championship wouldn't be close.

did you ever consider that maybe he is running low on fuel as a publicity stunt.

Why would McLaren do that? Have you considered they probably sent Piastri and Himself on similar loads?

[Quantum]

It might even be more dominant than the 2023 Red Bull

No

[search]

some long run data from FP1

[SB15]

some long run data from FP1

https://i.imgur.com/WHYYxC9.png

No way the Mercedes is that good in the long runs, I refuse to believe this, I refuse! They were stress testing the tyre this session.

[Quantum]

some long run data from FP1

https://i.imgur.com/WHYYxC9.png

No way the Mercedes is that good in the long runs, I refuse to believe this, I refuse! They were stress testing the tyre this session.

Bortoleto and Hadjar were on 0.3ish off on softs so the times are reflective. It's possible Macca and RB were just running conservatively

[fourmula1]

It might even be more dominant than the 2023 Red Bull

No

[pantherxxx]

It might even be more dominant than the 2023 Red Bull

No

In the hands of Verstappen it's very likely that it would be. In 2023 Perez couldn't even get podium in half of the races. This year even Norris is comfortably second, who makes huge mistakes all the time.

[Quantum]

In the hands of Verstappen it's very likely that it would be. In 2023 Perez couldn't even get podium in half of the races. This year even Norris is comfortably second, who makes huge mistakes all the time.

Number 2s have a history of being terrible in championship winning cars that cant get podiums in half the races.
What you're seeing at Red Bull isn't even new. Even to Red Bull! (though fan mania will obviously say otherwise)

2024, 2023, 2022, 2018, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2003, All years where the winning cars number 2 failed to "even get a podium in half of the races" or get to 60% of the winning guys points tally.

Still a large NO from me. Let's not deviate from the GP thread

[daren_p]

It might even be more dominant than the 2023 Red Bull

No

In the hands of Verstappen it's very likely that it would be. In 2023 Perez couldn't even get podium in half of the races. This year even Norris is comfortably second, who makes huge mistakes all the time.

People seem to think that no matter the car Verstappen will be mega. While I'm not denying this may be the case, unless he has actually driven said car, no one knows this to be true. He is excellent in a car that appears to be very unique, one that most others on the grid seem to have issues with. There have been times in the past when he was paired with Perez, that Perez had speed over him when the car was more to Sergio's liking then it was to Max's. So who's to say that its not a certain trait in the RB that allows Max to be so fast, that another car may not necessarily have?

[Quantum]

Macca already 1.2 seconds up on the time Dunne did.

[Sevach]

Mclaren throwing down the gauntlet.

[j_ste]

Macca already 1.2 seconds up on the time Dunne did.

McLaren turning up the engines to exaggerate results again

Yeah. all style and no substance that team…

They look great as usual

[Quantum]

6 lap stint on softs and Max radioing in fronts are struggling.

[search]

The "McLaren better than they should be" is usually more of a FP3 phenomena. This looks more or less like an expected pace to me.