2024 Mclaren Formula 1 Team

[BMMR61]

Technical guru Matt Somerfield guests on Missed Apex Podcast today and it's a great teaser for McLaren in 2025.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-JNgS11K-E

At about the 40 minute mark he speculates that McLaren have put a lot of their technical investment into rear wing/ beam wing combinations. He informs us that in 2024 the use of these were as follows;
McLaren 8 RW & 14 BW
Red Bull 4 RW & 5 BW
Mercedes 5 RW & 5 BW
Ferrari 8 RW & 8 BW

He contends that this is how McLaren used it's extra wind tunnel time and hints that this is good useful development for the 2025 car. Additional tease - the late season new floor was held back for further analysis, an obvious utilisation, the MCL39 in Melbourne 2025!

[bauc]

In the meantime I've read that Max Verstappen criticized that whoever criticizes his driving style lacks championship mentality. Next year Red Bull might not be that good from the start and he might be forced to chase instead of gaining a 50 point lead. I wonder if he will keep that same energy when Russell, Lando, Oscar, Leclerc, Hamilton starts closing the door making him take a risk of DNF. Will he claim that these drivers drive with a championship mentality then if he is on the receiving end? Personally I would love to see Oscar making some bold defensive moves on Max just to see him go into gamer rage.

He (Max) thinks he is like Senna, as Senna was a driver who would put other drivers in a position where they have to decided if they will back off or there will be a crash, Senna never was the guy who yield, BUT.... this was done in a more intelligent manner with a proper set up (in most cases) what Max does is by brute force and above the limit of the rules.... AKA gray zone racing .... I consider this topic closed, I expect, if Mclaren can stay competitive in 2025, to both NOR and PIA outrace him strategically over the course of the season.

For some time it's been my mindset that Max is a contemporary of Senna. As the order of greats (impossible really given the difference of eras) I rate Max alongside Senna for ability and talent, an actual great of F1 that we are experiencing in real time. Now this will upset some of the "Senna is God" fans but I'd suggest there is every reason with the 2024 Brazil drive to see that as a parallel to Senna's Donnington masterclass. I don't see these drivers as God's they're all fallible, Senna couldn't defeat physics and didn't survive his turbulent career. Max is of course living in a safer era but his recklessness or bravado, for want of a better word is on a similar level. Max on Lando in Austin (his second of two dive-bombs) was getting close to Senna at Suzuka - inarguably deplorable and not at all adequately punished.

Bringing it around to a McLaren point, I think Oscar, for such a quiet personality, has some level of bravery. Some may disagree but I have seen it in aspects of his driving. I think he may develop into the nemesis of Max, Abu Dhabi turn 1 may just be the first chapter of something dramatic. He appears to have a certain Max self containment without the outright ruthlessness levels of Max. It sets an anticipation for McLaren v Red Bull in 2025 that is exciting, though it risks official intervention should it get too obviously gladiatorial. Maybe Oscar could unwittingly or otherwise play a foil for Lando at the front of the field, as I think it will be some time before Lawson gets on the pace of these guys.
Exciting times in 2025 for McLaren I'm sure!

Oh Max is a hell of a talent that is for sure, I'm not denying that, not at all, I'm just saying that he is keen on having that mindset but he cuts a few corners to do so ... and that does not make him unique just a bully on the track.

[bauc]

Technical guru Matt Somerfield guests on Missed Apex Podcast today and it's a great teaser for McLaren in 2025.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-JNgS11K-E

At about the 40 minute mark he speculates that McLaren have put a lot of their technical investment into rear wing/ beam wing combinations. He informs us that in 2024 the use of these were as follows;
McLaren 8 RW & 14 BW
Red Bull 4 RW & 5 BW
Mercedes 5 RW & 5 BW
Ferrari 8 RW & 8 BW

He contends that this is how McLaren used it's extra wind tunnel time and hints that this is good useful development for the 2025 car. Additional tease - the late season new floor was held back for further analysis, an obvious utilisation, the MCL39 in Melbourne 2025!

Don't get me excited this early for 2025 man

[FittingMechanics]

Bringing it around to a McLaren point, I think Oscar, for such a quiet personality, has some level of bravery. Some may disagree but I have seen it in aspects of his driving. I think he may develop into the nemesis of Max, Abu Dhabi turn 1 may just be the first chapter of something dramatic. He appears to have a certain Max self containment without the outright ruthlessness levels of Max. It sets an anticipation for McLaren v Red Bull in 2025 that is exciting, though it risks official intervention should it get too obviously gladiatorial. Maybe Oscar could unwittingly or otherwise play a foil for Lando at the front of the field, as I think it will be some time before Lawson gets on the pace of these guys.
Exciting times in 2025 for McLaren I'm sure!

I agree that Oscar seems unfazed by Max and that may become very important. We have to keep in mind that Lando started in a inferior McLaren and was easily bullied for years by the top cars, including Max. This inevitably leads to Lando being more cautious and less cutthroat against him. I was super frustrated how easily McLaren's would yield to "better" cars few years ago.

Oscar entered into F1 just as McLaren started to become podium capable, this reduced amount of "yield to a faster car" he had done. He is also very cool and doesn't doubt himself as much so he tends to fight hard when he is able to. I was most impressed by some of his overtaking where he was able to pull overtakes where others would not. On the other hand, his overall pace wasn't always the best and as many good overtakes he had, he had many situations where he couldn't overtake for a long time. I hope he can improve his pace in his third year. This would help both Lando and the team to achieve more.

About Max - I think he will hit a metaphorical wall when he ends up having to fight multiple drivers for the championship. When his fight is against 1 person (like against Lewis or Lando late this year), he can easily intimidate and force a crash if needed. But the moment two drivers are fighting him for a title, he will lose all the advantage he has, any type of crash would be catastrophic in that case. Unfortunately for us, in 2024 Oscar was not as fast as Max and could almost never challenge him to bring about these type of problems for Max.

[BMMR61]

He (Max) thinks he is like Senna, as Senna was a driver who would put other drivers in a position where they have to decided if they will back off or there will be a crash, Senna never was the guy who yield, BUT.... this was done in a more intelligent manner with a proper set up (in most cases) what Max does is by brute force and above the limit of the rules.... AKA gray zone racing .... I consider this topic closed, I expect, if Mclaren can stay competitive in 2025, to both NOR and PIA outrace him strategically over the course of the season.

For some time it's been my mindset that Max is a contemporary of Senna. As the order of greats (impossible really given the difference of eras) I rate Max alongside Senna for ability and talent, an actual great of F1 that we are experiencing in real time. Now this will upset some of the "Senna is God" fans but I'd suggest there is every reason with the 2024 Brazil drive to see that as a parallel to Senna's Donnington masterclass. I don't see these drivers as God's they're all fallible, Senna couldn't defeat physics and didn't survive his turbulent career. Max is of course living in a safer era but his recklessness or bravado, for want of a better word is on a similar level. Max on Lando in Austin (his second of two dive-bombs) was getting close to Senna at Suzuka - inarguably deplorable and not at all adequately punished.

Bringing it around to a McLaren point, I think Oscar, for such a quiet personality, has some level of bravery. Some may disagree but I have seen it in aspects of his driving. I think he may develop into the nemesis of Max, Abu Dhabi turn 1 may just be the first chapter of something dramatic. He appears to have a certain Max self containment without the outright ruthlessness levels of Max. It sets an anticipation for McLaren v Red Bull in 2025 that is exciting, though it risks official intervention should it get too obviously gladiatorial. Maybe Oscar could unwittingly or otherwise play a foil for Lando at the front of the field, as I think it will be some time before Lawson gets on the pace of these guys.
Exciting times in 2025 for McLaren I'm sure!

Oh Max is a hell of a talent that is for sure, I'm not denying that, not at all, I'm just saying that he is keen on having that mindset but he cuts a few corners to do so ... and that does not make him unique just a bully on the track.

Do you really think Ayrton wasn't a bully? He invented "yield or we crash" which Schumacher co-opted, Lewis occasionally used, and Max is full beans with.

[Darth-Piekus]

No Senna was far from a bully. A man who stopped mid race to help another driver and fighting tooth and nail with the FIA for increased safety doesnt give bully vibes at all not to mention taking that kind of risk when you could get killed in that age.

[hollus]

Max is not in papaya colors.
/Max off.
A token effort to stay on topic after 992 pages would be very welcome.

[Darth-Piekus]

I would like to wish a Merry Christmas to the whole forum, I hope the Christmas Spirit enlightens the moderators to improve as characters and not take everything seriously all the time and finally I hope I will see you on the next Mclaren F1 car presentation.

[SilviuAgo]

I would like to wish a Merry Christmas to the whole forum, I hope the Christmas Spirit enlightens the moderators to improve as characters and not take everything seriously all the time and finally I hope I will see you on the next Mclaren F1 car presentation.

Merry Christmas to all Formula 1 fans, McLaren passion and all the moderators that keep up this place. See u in 2025.

[Darth-Piekus]

Merry Christmas to all Formula 1 fans, McLaren passion and all the moderators that keep up this place. See u in 2025.

And I hope that 2025 will find Mclaren with both championships and us F1 fans here with less vitriol between us and especially those who like to report from the shadows.

[BMMR61]

I would like to wish a Merry Christmas to the whole forum, I hope the Christmas Spirit enlightens the moderators to improve as characters and not take everything seriously all the time and finally I hope I will see you on the next Mclaren F1 car presentation.

Merry Christmas to all Formula 1 fans, McLaren passion and all the moderators that keep up this place. See u in 2025.

https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/C4 ... MMartXSS48

Yes indeed - we all need this from time to time. It's been an incredibly good year for F1 and an even better year for McLaren fans. How is it that many have tried to rescue defeat from the jaws of victory. LOL
As far as I'm aware the moderators have done very well, some of the allowable contents published indicate they haven't been too brutal.

Let's hope McLaren expectations aren't overwhelmed by achievement in 2025, certainly the future looks bright!

[taperoo2k]

This might only work in the UK. But this is from the BBC archives of a look at McLaren getting ready for the 1969 season, with
Bruce McLaren interviewed.

[aragorn123]

Super insider info...could be a rumor, could be real, could be bullshit, so please accept it as is.

This person heard from someone, who heard from someone, that heard from an "anonymous" employee that the reason Mcl held back on the new floor is that they found something very big in the windtunnel and as the Constructors was pretty much wrapped up and Norris with an outside chance of fighting for the title, decided not to put it on the car and risk revealing it to the competition (sort of if they crashed, someone could get a underside shot of it). They believed that it would best to keep it "secret" for 2025.

Kind of makes sense with the statement from Brown that they are being "brave" with the development of the new car.
Could be something, could be nothing. fingers crossed Mcl wipes the floor with everyone come Quali in Aus 25.

[_cerber1]

Oh, how I love these off-season rumors . In general, has a separate topic for this https://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32031. And I see at least two posts that can be moved there.

[mclaren111]

Super insider info...could be a rumor, could be real, could be bullshit, so please accept it as is.

This person heard from someone, who heard from someone, that heard from an "anonymous" employee that the reason Mcl held back on the new floor is that they found something very big in the windtunnel and as the Constructors was pretty much wrapped up and Norris with an outside chance of fighting for the title, decided not to put it on the car and risk revealing it to the competition (sort of if they crashed, someone could get a underside shot of it). They believed that it would best to keep it "secret" for 2025.

Kind of makes sense with the statement from Brown that they are being "brave" with the development of the new car.
Could be something, could be nothing. Fingers crossed Mcl wipes the floor with everyone come Quali in Aus 25.

Amen...