2025 McLaren F1 Team

[CjC]

I'm not getting it, unless you think the rear isn't up to the one lap pace?

Yea my concern is that the rear instability will sap the confidence of the drivers in qualifying. It all might be fine if driving the car to 99% of its limit will secure pole.

On the other hand, on race pace they drive within the limitations of the car which in this case is the rear- I’ve recently watched a video and the content creator reckoned the amount of front grip will be a major asset for race pace.

This guy:

[CjC]

However, a contradicting video- raising the concerns of too much front end which is inducing fear instability.

Same guy:

[Nicktendo86]

However, a contradicting video- raising the concerns of too much front end which is inducing fear instability.

Same guy:

So they would just need to dial that in the setup surely? Take some front wing off?

[K1Plus]

Well better to have more front than none at all, like in 2018-2022, and early 2023.
Glad they fixed their long standing baked-in mid corner understeer. Was it a byproduct of Alonso or?

[venkyhere]

Wow, the first 3 questions are rather direct, & Lando does not shy away from answering them. He looks confident & happy with where they are...

The NBC presenter is a clear 'proper F1 follower'. This is one of the best driver interviews I have seen in years, surprised it has come from an unlikely source like NBC. Makes all the 'dedicated F1 media' look stupid with their recycled cliche questions.

[Darth-Piekus]

Hello again. I am back regarding that Mini DRS wing controversy and I'm hearing that the FIA might have to make the rule changes that wanted to do in Spain from Melbourne if the cameras they put to wings give them reasons to do so which of course happened after Red Bull made their appeal. Mclaren and Ferrari are not worried though. Does anyone know more about what is happening as the championship hasn't even started and some teams (of drink quality) don't really like when others do a better job. What exactly is going on?

[the EDGE]

Hello again. I am back regarding that Mini DRS wing controversy and I'm hearing that the FIA might have to make the rule changes that wanted to do in Spain from Melbourne if the cameras they put to wings give them reasons to do so which of course happened after Red Bull made their appeal. Mclaren and Ferrari are not worried though. Does anyone know more about what is happening as the championship hasn't even started and some teams (of drink quality) don't really like when others do a better job. What exactly is going on?

The change planned for Spain relates to the front wings, so it won’t be moved to Melbourne. But we do already have increased load tests for rear wings coming in Melbourne anyway

Red bulls issue is with the rear wings. We’ve not seen any evidence of this, but they are suggesting McLaren & Ferrari are both abusing the flexi regs again. There is evidence of Merc doing this, so it’s strange they haven’t accused them too

The FIA is installing rear facing camera at Melbourne to take a look at what is going on. This will be on all cars. If they see stuff they don’t like they may ask teams to make changes

It wouldn’t surprise me if McLaren used last years rear wing in testing just to wind-up Red Bull to keep the distracted.

[CjC]

However, a contradicting video- raising the concerns of too much front end which is inducing fear instability.

Same guy:

So they would just need to dial that in the setup surely? Take some front wing off?

You would imagine that is one possibility, however it happened on numerous runs- either Mclaren didn’t try to improve the balance or they just simply couldn’t improve it.
Did anyone witness Oscar suffering with rear instability in the after of day 3?

I’m also sure everyone noted that they ran their mid downforce wing, perhaps the rear instability won’t be so much of an issue whilst using the maximum rear wing at other tracks

[CjC]

Well better to have more front than none at all, like in 2018-2022, and early 2023.
Glad they fixed their long standing baked-in mid corner understeer. Was it a byproduct of Alonso or?

Don’t think so, I recall Jenson in 2013 often saying they were maxed out on front wing downforce and still suffered from understeer.

It could be a Toyota wind tunnel problem- especially when you consider that the MCL39 was fully developed in McLarens own new wind tunnel and seems to have more front downforce than any car they have ever produced.

[BMMR61]

Fantastic interview, didn't know NBC had an F1 interest. What struck me was Lando showed greater maturity through the way he navigated the questions to be in control of all situations and not be trapped. I think of a number of things were revealed in a general sense about Lando. On reflection I wondered if Lando's four and a half years driving not really competitive McLarens and being denied his first win, damaged his self belief, and now that is quickly being repaired. I hope he continues the form of this interview and avoids mentally undermining himself as he has show signs of in the last year.

I'm now ready to bet on LN4 for 2026 WDC!

Have you written this season off already??

What a strange question. On the contrary I'm very optimistic for McLaren and by extension, their drivers. I don't want to get on a hype train on the basis of a three day test in cold temperatures where we have no idea how hard the teams were trying to set representative times. Lando's race simulation pace certainly stood out and this is making the pundits pick McLaren as the early favourites. It does look like McLaren will come out of the blocks much better than the previous few years but I am always suspicious of hype. Melbourne will reveal a lot more than Bahrain did.

[mwillems]

I'm not getting it, unless you think the rear isn't up to the one lap pace?

Yea my concern is that the rear instability will sap the confidence of the drivers in qualifying. It all might be fine if driving the car to 99% of its limit will secure pole.

On the other hand, on race pace they drive within the limitations of the car which in this case is the rear- I’ve recently watched a video and the content creator reckoned the amount of front grip will be a major asset for race pace.

This guy:

I think it's was just pushed to its limit whereas the front had an easy time of it. I suspect they were figuring out what setup got the rear to work best.

They will take this data and hopefully improve the rear a little.

But you might well see the same at a front limited tracks, in that the front is pushed to the limit and the rear has an easy time.

I don't think.its an issue. There's always something to improve.

[CjC]

Fantastic interview, didn't know NBC had an F1 interest. What struck me was Lando showed greater maturity through the way he navigated the questions to be in control of all situations and not be trapped. I think of a number of things were revealed in a general sense about Lando. On reflection I wondered if Lando's four and a half years driving not really competitive McLarens and being denied his first win, damaged his self belief, and now that is quickly being repaired. I hope he continues the form of this interview and avoids mentally undermining himself as he has show signs of in the last year.

I'm now ready to bet on LN4 for 2026 WDC!

Have you written this season off already??

What a strange question. On the contrary I'm very optimistic for McLaren and by extension, their drivers. I don't want to get on a hype train on the basis of a three day test in cold temperatures where we have no idea how hard the teams were trying to set representative times. Lando's race simulation pace certainly stood out and this is making the pundits pick McLaren as the early favourites. It does look like McLaren will come out of the blocks much better than the previous few years but I am always suspicious of hype. Melbourne will reveal a lot more than Bahrain did.

I was poking fun, you said 2026 WDC!
I was just questioned about this, the 2025 season