2025 McLaren F1 Team

[SilviuAgo]

In the padt Stella has said going less downforce impacts the guy, due to its design. I wonder if tgey got spooked in Monza and tried something, making it a bit more tricky, and that's why Oscar couldn't control it.

Oscar blamed just "anticipation" for the errors. False start to timing and crash due to dirty air. Nothing on the car. As Lando said, the race was lost yesterday.

[TimW]

Obviously the car is designed for the front on these tracks, so the Saturday problems killed anything.

That was my take a well. The car was among the fastest, but insufficient DRS effect and top speed to be a good racecar.

[venkyhere]

Lawson? Lando was never against him.

Don't mind a bit of Lando bashing, but not sure its warranted on someone he was never behind.

Yes he was, after putting on the H from the slow pitstop. Then Tsunoda joined in, after his pitstop, then Lawson got ahead of Tsunoda and established the DRS train.

He came out behind Leclerc, and overtook him. I dont recall him being behind Lawson for long at all, as Yuki came out and got caught up quickly. Was he a lap behind Lawson?

oops ! my bad. I got confused b/w Lawson and Tsunoda. Antonelli was stuck behind Lawson, Norris was stuck behind Tsunoda. Mixed up the two. Sorry about that.
Nevertheless, my point stands. Norris wasn't able to 'setup an overtake' at T16 exit. It's not as if he was trying to pass via slipstreaming, he was trying to pass via DRS. Otherwise how can his LeClerc overtake be explained ? Ferrari is faster than the Redbull in a straightline, but with super-low downforce setup, struggled to 'exit well without sacrificing entry' at T15 and T16, and that's why Norris could pass leClerc.
Unlike what 'dearest fans' of Norris might allege, I am not trying to degrade your favourite driver. Just telling the uncomfortable truth. Had it been Piastri instead of Norris, he would've 'tried' something - weave in the mirrors and disturb the guy in front, or try to take the shorter, curvier, fence-hugging line into T15 (which would've disturbed the straightline-braking everyone was trying to do into T15) , because he can brake later than lower winged cars with less downforce on them. None of this 'trying to setup the guy in front' happened. And that is Norris. At some point he has to make a 'gamble move'. He made one, in Canada, and it failed. Doesn't mean he shouldn't try anymore.

[Emag]

It’s astonishing how much hate or negativity can exist when it comes to Lando. I’ll admit — I want McLaren to win, because first and foremost I’m a fan of the team, not just the driver. And if I had to choose a world champion, I’d pick Lando first, then Oscar. But that doesn’t mean I’ll celebrate Oscar’s DNF, a P2 on the grid instead of a pole, or a technical issue. Karma always finds a way to hit you when you least expect it.

What’s even more surprising is that in a weekend where Oscar made a series of mistakes, people are still talking about how Lando couldn’t pass Tsunoda or that he finished P7. Never mind the fact that it was a race where even Antonelli couldn’t get past Lawson or Tsunoda — overtaking was nearly impossible. Hamilton, on mediums, sat in the DRS train behind Lando and couldn’t even attempt a move.

It’s sad that members of this forum — who are supposedly not part of the DTS crowd — can ignore everything happening around on track and focus solely on attacking or hating one driver. Sad!
I hope you enjoy the rest of the season and this moments when McLaren is, soon, consecutive WCC in F1. Seems that we quickly forgot the 2013 - 2024 period.

Because there isn't much to say about Oscar. He has had a shocking weekend. It was over really quickly for him.
But Lando just did absolutely nothing with the plentiful of chances he had to get one up on Oscar this weekend. He was so timid and careful this race he was actually annoying me a bit with how mild and with such a lack of hunger he seemed to approach the situation that was gifted to him. You could sense that he had opportunities to be a bit more aggressive and capitalize, but instead he seemed content to just sit in line and wait things out. That kind of approach is fine if you are thinking about damage limitation, but when your main rival is already out of contention and you have a real chance to get back in the game, it comes across as a totally wasted opportunity.

It gives you the impression that in his head, all he is thinking is "well, we are not dominant this race so might as well play it safe and wait for the next race where we can win a bit easier".

[venkyhere]

It’s astonishing how much hate or negativity can exist when it comes to Lando. I’ll admit — I want McLaren to win, because first and foremost I’m a fan of the team, not just the driver. And if I had to choose a world champion, I’d pick Lando first, then Oscar. But that doesn’t mean I’ll celebrate Oscar’s DNF, a P2 on the grid instead of a pole, or a technical issue. Karma always finds a way to hit you when you least expect it.

What’s even more surprising is that in a weekend where Oscar made a series of mistakes, people are still talking about how Lando couldn’t pass Tsunoda or that he finished P7. Never mind the fact that it was a race where even Antonelli couldn’t get past Lawson or Tsunoda — overtaking was nearly impossible. Hamilton, on mediums, sat in the DRS train behind Lando and couldn’t even attempt a move.

It’s sad that members of this forum — who are supposedly not part of the DTS crowd — can ignore everything happening around on track and focus solely on attacking or hating one driver. Sad!
I hope you enjoy the rest of the season and this moments when McLaren is, soon, consecutive WCC in F1. Seems that we quickly forgot the 2013 - 2024 period.

Because there isn't much to say about Oscar. He has had a shocking weekend. It was over really quickly for him.
But Lando just did absolutely nothing with the plentiful of chances he had to get one up on Oscar this weekend. He was so timid and careful this race he was actually annoying me a bit with how mild and with such a lack of hunger he seemed to approach the situation that was gifted to him. You could sense that he had opportunities to be a bit more aggressive and capitalize, but instead he seemed content to just sit in line and wait things out. That kind of approach is fine if you are thinking about damage limitation, but when your main rival is already out of contention and you have a real chance to get back in the game, it comes across as a totally wasted opportunity.

It gives you the impression that in his head, all he is thinking is "well, we are not dominant this race so might as well play it safe and wait for the next race where we can win a bit easier".

Bingo. You said it better than I did.
Stop blaming the car, it was easily the 2nd fastest car (RB21 was fastest only in Max's hands) and wasn't a turkey with DRS open.

[SilviuAgo]

It’s astonishing how much hate or negativity can exist when it comes to Lando. I’ll admit — I want McLaren to win, because first and foremost I’m a fan of the team, not just the driver. And if I had to choose a world champion, I’d pick Lando first, then Oscar. But that doesn’t mean I’ll celebrate Oscar’s DNF, a P2 on the grid instead of a pole, or a technical issue. Karma always finds a way to hit you when you least expect it.

What’s even more surprising is that in a weekend where Oscar made a series of mistakes, people are still talking about how Lando couldn’t pass Tsunoda or that he finished P7. Never mind the fact that it was a race where even Antonelli couldn’t get past Lawson or Tsunoda — overtaking was nearly impossible. Hamilton, on mediums, sat in the DRS train behind Lando and couldn’t even attempt a move.

It’s sad that members of this forum — who are supposedly not part of the DTS crowd — can ignore everything happening around on track and focus solely on attacking or hating one driver. Sad!
I hope you enjoy the rest of the season and this moments when McLaren is, soon, consecutive WCC in F1. Seems that we quickly forgot the 2013 - 2024 period.

Because there isn't much to say about Oscar. He has had a shocking weekend. It was over really quickly for him.
But Lando just did absolutely nothing with the plentiful of chances he had to get one up on Oscar this weekend. He was so timid and careful this race he was actually annoying me a bit with how mild and with such a lack of hunger he seemed to approach the situation that was gifted to him. You could sense that he had opportunities to be a bit more aggressive and capitalize, but instead he seemed content to just sit in line and wait things out. That kind of approach is fine if you are thinking about damage limitation, but when your main rival is already out of contention and you have a real chance to get back in the game, it comes across as a totally wasted opportunity.

It gives you the impression that in his head, all he is thinking is "well, we are not dominant this race so might as well play it safe and wait for the next race where we can win a bit easier".

Okay, I understand your point of view, but if you were Lando or on McLaren’s pitwall, what would you have done differently today? I think it was pretty clear that a classic overtake on track was nearly impossible. And when the driver ahead also has DRS, you really don’t stand a chance. Also the alternative strategy with long stint on Medium vs Yuki's hards and the slow pitstop didn't help.

After the “attempt” in Canada, everyone jumped on him saying he shouldn’t have done that. Now that he was rational and didn’t dive into a move in T1 or T3 — which could’ve led to a collision or going off into the wall — he’s being accused of not trying hard enough. It’s amazing how many of us have apparently driven an F1 car and know exactly how easy or hard it is to overtake.

[CjC]

Think it’s clear now, at low DF tracks McLaren aren’t the fastest/ favourites:

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/red- ... erstappen/

I was saying that there is a consensus before this weekend that Red Bull are the strongest at the low wing level but Norris has basically confirmed it.

Vegas will be Max’s and possibly Austin- he’s pretty good there isn’t he, but the rest should just about favour the McLaren and its rear tyre wear

[selvam_e2002]

SG will be 1-2 for Mclaren. So this weekend is the one to forgot. Hoping to secure WCC in SG in style.

[Ben1980]

Yes he was, after putting on the H from the slow pitstop. Then Tsunoda joined in, after his pitstop, then Lawson got ahead of Tsunoda and established the DRS train.

He came out behind Leclerc, and overtook him. I dont recall him being behind Lawson for long at all, as Yuki came out and got caught up quickly. Was he a lap behind Lawson?

oops ! my bad. I got confused b/w Lawson and Tsunoda. Antonelli was stuck behind Lawson, Norris was stuck behind Tsunoda. Mixed up the two. Sorry about that.
Nevertheless, my point stands. Norris wasn't able to 'setup an overtake' at T16 exit. It's not as if he was trying to pass via slipstreaming, he was trying to pass via DRS. Otherwise how can his LeClerc overtake be explained ? Ferrari is faster than the Redbull in a straightline, but with super-low downforce setup, struggled to 'exit well without sacrificing entry' at T15 and T16, and that's why Norris could pass leClerc.
Unlike what 'dearest fans' of Norris might allege, I am not trying to degrade your favourite driver. Just telling the uncomfortable truth. Had it been Piastri instead of Norris, he would've 'tried' something - weave in the mirrors and disturb the guy in front, or try to take the shorter, curvier, fence-hugging line into T15 (which would've disturbed the straightline-braking everyone was trying to do into T15) , because he can brake later than lower winged cars with less downforce on them. None of this 'trying to setup the guy in front' happened. And that is Norris. At some point he has to make a 'gamble move'. He made one, in Canada, and it failed. Doesn't mean he shouldn't try anymore.

Problem being Tsunoda always had DRS from Lawson, and very quickly Lewis had Drs on Lando. If Lando tries something he risks letting in Lewis.

I don't think Yuki any real intention to overtake Lawson, so they just kept it tight.

You needed DRS out there or a massive offset, even then the hards just carried on working.

Lando wasnt clean, but also really was, well just stuck.

It was a godawful race on a godawful track.

[Slahinki]

Terrible weekend. Saturday ruined for both cars by Piastri driving like an amateur. Then he fluffs the start and crashes like an amateur, again. Lando drove a well managed first stint, making his mediums last as long as the hards, but the race was undone by yet another slow stop.

[Slahinki]

Also yet another example of why B-teams should be banned.

[chrisc90]

Also yet another example of why B-teams should be banned.

What on earth did a B team have any effect on how the race weekend played out?

[Slahinki]

Also yet another example of why B-teams should be banned.

What on earth did a B team have any effect on how the race weekend played out?

Lawson quite obviously tugging Tsunoda along in DRS.

[FittingMechanics]

I also think going medium at the start but not overtaking and then being forced to run a super long medium stint didn't help with the pace.

Lando losing two positions in first laps didn't help either.

Race to forget but a warning to the team. Their battle for WDC cannot and should not mean they choose suboptimal strategies and leave the points on the table for Max.

[FittingMechanics]

Also yet another example of why B-teams should be banned.

What on earth did a B team have any effect on how the race weekend played out?

Lawson quite obviously tugging Tsunoda along in DRS.

Sainz used the same to protect himself in Singapore. I don't like junior teams but I don't think this was orchestrated (unlike that Ricciardo fastest lap)