2025 McLaren F1 Team

[MrGapes]

Also just out of curiosity (I’m happy with the existing Merc partnership), I am curious though…rewind to the start of 2023 when Aston and Honda agreed to a works engine deal, I do wonder if that would of been a little different if a decision was made later, it was made during peak Aston when they were continuous podium contenders and the closest max pursuers. I don’t know if they contacted or were even interested in a deal with McLaren..considering how 22 and the start of 23 was going I could see why any engine developer wouldn’t be interested.

But I do think in an alternative universe where the timelines were a bit different it could have been certainly a discussion.

(Nothing against the Aston project, with the personnel and facilities coming they for sure deserve it)

[Macklaren]

Also just out of curiosity (I’m happy with the existing Merc partnership), I am curious though…rewind to the start of 2023 when Aston and Honda agreed to a works engine deal, I do wonder if that would of been a little different if a decision was made later, it was made during peak Aston when they were continuous podium contenders and the closest max pursuers. I don’t know if they contacted or were even interested in a deal with McLaren..considering how 22 and the start of 23 was going I could see why any engine developer wouldn’t be interested.

But I do think in an alternative universe where the timelines were a bit different it could have been certainly a discussion.

(Nothing against the Aston project, with the personnel and facilities coming they for sure deserve it)

McLaren considered every option (including RBPT) before re-signing with Mercedes. I bet Lando would have not extended his contract if we signed with Honda, given the risks

[De Wet]

Also just out of curiosity (I’m happy with the existing Merc partnership), I am curious though…rewind to the start of 2023 when Aston and Honda agreed to a works engine deal, I do wonder if that would of been a little different if a decision was made later, it was made during peak Aston when they were continuous podium contenders and the closest max pursuers. I don’t know if they contacted or were even interested in a deal with McLaren..considering how 22 and the start of 23 was going I could see why any engine developer wouldn’t be interested.

But I do think in an alternative universe where the timelines were a bit different it could have been certainly a discussion.

(Nothing against the Aston project, with the personnel and facilities coming they for sure deserve it)

McLaren considered every option (including RBPT) before re-signing with Mercedes. I bet Lando would have not extended his contract if we signed with Honda, given the risks

Have to agree. Honda is very erratic when it comes to F1.

[FittingMechanics]

I think it is unnecessary and risky to change engine partner. 2024 proved you can win as a customer. Mercedes also has skin in the game with their own team, so they will always invest heavily to develop new spec engines.

Honda is one corporate coup from leaving the sport. RBPT (and Ferrari) could theoretically be options, but I don't see upsides. For RBPT I also am not convinced they wouldn't find shady ways to influence performance of McLaren engines if they were challenging for a title. Maybe that's my bias, but the leadership there doesn't seem to be too morally strong and thus, anything could happen.

In short, Mercedes is a great reliable long term partner.

[Darth-Piekus]

Honda in my opinion never took F1 seriously. They lost 10 years to be on par with Mercedes and in the meantime Mclaren became the guinea pig for their ticking time bombs. Some will argue that Ron Dennis might have pushed them too early but in my opinion it's an excuse for their unpreparedness as these rules were known from 2010 and Mercedes already started working on their engine. For Ferrari I could never picture Mclaren using a rival's engine. For Red Bull there are a lot of doubts they can even make a good engine with zero knowledge even if they have help. Its different to have eons of engine knowledge in engines and another to go with zero knowledge and attempt to make an engine with the help of someone else. Its like making something following a guide book.

[frosty125]

Given Mercedes track record with the V8 and V6 era I think you would be mad to bet against that PU being the best.

[Kenzrc944]

Great article from The-Race outlining MCL39 suspension changes amongst other areas of design focus https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/mcla ... uspension/

[sport777]

For some reason the MCL39 reminds me of the 2018 Red Bull RB14, it's an RB car, the chassis, the aerodynamics, the mechanical clutch were just amazing and the way it drove fast in the race and handled the rubber in the race was just gorgeous.

[Darth-Piekus]

As only one week remains we can all wish and pray for the team to have a good upper hand in the first round so we can get the 1-2 and an early lead forcing our opponents to chase us for once.

[Macklaren]

As only one week remains we can all wish and pray for the team to have a good upper hand in the first round so we can get the 1-2 and an early lead forcing our opponents to chase us for once.

We will know in FP1. If the car seems fine with the kerbs and the Melbourne track, I think we have this in the bag. Though the videos of the insane wing flexing on the Merc look scary. I think we will be fighting Mercedes mainly, next weekend

[mwillems]

Comparison of fastest lap top speeds between 24 testing, 24 Qualifying and 25 testing.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/bahrain-s ... fying-pace

The article misleads slightly. it suggests we are pushing less than Mercedes, but they generally carried a slight speed advantage and ran to higher revs than Mclaren, so this doesn't look like news to me.

Top speeds are in the same relative position as last year, so there's no suggestion to me that we've left anything more in the tank vs anyone from the numbers alone. it doesn't show the relative improvement of the Mclaren though, which did improve in aero efficiency as the year went on, but isn't reflected here because it isn't a like for like comparison. The fact that this set of data doesn't reflect that could mean that we are hiding the pace, or of course that others have improved their own efficiency in line with us by the time the cars got to testing.

As always, you can never guess the order, but I thought you'd might like the read.

Makes me want to compare the testing race run speed traces vs the race last year though.

[venkyhere]

Makes me want to compare the testing race run speed traces vs the race last year though.

In fact, that's the only thing that has some semblance of 'readable data' - only the long runs matter. Quali sims I don't trust even on FP runs on a race weekend. Only the long runs matter. The only place where quali sims can be considered 'readable data' are in Monaco and Singapore FPs.

McLaren was MASSIVELY hiding pace in testing

[mwillems]

Makes me want to compare the testing race run speed traces vs the race last year though.

In fact, that's the only thing that has some semblance of 'readable data' - only the long runs matter. Quali sims I don't trust even on FP runs on a race weekend. Only the long runs matter. The only place where quali sims can be considered 'readable data' are in Monaco and Singapore FPs.

McLaren was MASSIVELY hiding pace in testing

Maybe. A comparison of the race v testing trace was interesting, but I need to.look at the gaps to cars in front on my analysis to see if the overall idea stands.

What i can say is that in testing, we can brake much later on heavy and medium fuel loads. The nose looks more than able to handle the heavier car.

Id noticed over the past few years that we seemed to brake earlier than others, though it got better over time. I initially debated with Lionsheart if we were derating, but he got some footage and we realised the car needed to scrub speed before the corner more than others to be able to turn in. Particularly on high fuel.

It can't be overstated what a difference this will make if true.

Based on this, I am expecting the car not to gain relative pace as the race goes on like in the last few years, but to be faster from the start. It'll certainly help with the turn 1/lap 1 battles. That in itself could be worth a hatful of points.

They've done something special to that front end, I'm sure. And it's very visible in slow corners, so it's mechanical, at least in part.

[CjC]

When Mclaren took the front nose off we could see a gold cover over the front bulkhead in front of the pedals during testing. It was probably hiding something rather than keeping a component cool

[mwillems]

Just noticed that Wache has suggested that the Anti Dive on the Mclaren is indeed very high. In fact his wording suggests that it is a noticeable observation of this year's car.

It does stand to reason that this is part of why the nose handles so well.