2025 McLaren F1 Team

[BMMR61]

I'm struggling to see evidence that Oscar's time in Q3 was somehow "off". Maybe a few hundredths but as has been said Max got a tow from Tsunoda to start his quick lap AND the Red Bull in his hands has proven to be very competitive on fast corner tracks.

S1 was tentative, lifting more than Max in the high speed despite more downforce. Maybe he got scared because of Lando's crash. Only 2 tenths quicker than Norris FP3 time. Norris leading Piastri all qualy until the crash. Stella saying the car had more potential. Mercedes believed they dropped 2 tenths on their lap. All the clues are there that Mclaren should have been a good chunk quicker (3-4 tenths) with Mercedes slotting just behind, as the previous races.

You sure you're not falling into the mind games trap that George and Max have so loudly been promoting that the McLaren drivers are doing a poor job? Fact is Piastri's time would have been quicker than what Max managed had he not had a sizeable tow towards turn 1. You may make your armchair pronouncement that S1 was "tentative" but it was purple until Max beat it - Max was quickest in S1 throughout Friday and Saturday if I'm not mistaken. George - well he has to make excuses for being a tenth off! Oscar's progression through Q looked pretty consistent with the gains you would expect - 1:27.901, 1:27.545, 1:27.304.

There's been so much use of "dominant" in talking about the McLaren, the reality is it is still the allrounder that last year's car was with two changes - it's slightly quicker in relative terms, but it's peak is trickier to hit. Everything looks consistent with that.

[AR3-GP]

I'm struggling to see evidence that Oscar's time in Q3 was somehow "off". Maybe a few hundredths but as has been said Max got a tow from Tsunoda to start his quick lap AND the Red Bull in his hands has proven to be very competitive on fast corner tracks.

S1 was tentative, lifting more than Max in the high speed despite more downforce. Maybe he got scared because of Lando's crash. Only 2 tenths quicker than Norris FP3 time. Norris leading Piastri all qualy until the crash. Stella saying the car had more potential. Mercedes believed they dropped 2 tenths on their lap. All the clues are there that Mclaren should have been a good chunk quicker (3-4 tenths) with Mercedes slotting just behind, as the previous races.

You sure you're not falling into the mind games trap that George and Max have so loudly been promoting that the McLaren drivers are doing a poor job? Fact is Piastri's time would have been quicker than what Max managed had he not had a sizeable tow towards turn 1. You may make your armchair pronouncement that S1 was "tentative" but it was purple until Max beat it - Max was quickest in S1 throughout Friday and Saturday if I'm not mistaken. George - well he has to make excuses for being a tenth off! Oscar's progression through Q looked pretty consistent with the gains you would expect - 1:27.901, 1:27.545, 1:27.304.

There's been so much use of "dominant" in talking about the McLaren, the reality is it is still the allrounder that last year's car was with two changes - it's slightly quicker in relative terms, but it's peak is trickier to hit. Everything looks consistent with that.

I think you misunderstood something. Mercedes was talking about their own underperformance, not that of Mclaren. Piastri was 1 tenth slower than Norris in Q1 and Q2. There are numerous reasons to suspect Piastri didn't do the fastest lap possible for a Mclaren.

Anyway, I'm not going to argue about this as I'm content with my understanding of the situation. If ever there should be any doubt, ponder for this for a moment. Lando Norris leads the championship despite mistakes at every single GP weekend. Russell and Verstappen who are the current top performers are several points back despite being nearly flawless. That's how dominant Mclaren are...Lando Norris has not even needed to drive well to lead it comfortably.

[Cs98]

I'm struggling to see evidence that Oscar's time in Q3 was somehow "off". Maybe a few hundredths but as has been said Max got a tow from Tsunoda to start his quick lap AND the Red Bull in his hands has proven to be very competitive on fast corner tracks.

S1 was tentative, lifting more than Max in the high speed despite more downforce. Maybe he got scared because of Lando's crash. Only 2 tenths quicker than Norris FP3 time. Norris leading Piastri all qualy until the crash. Stella saying the car had more potential. Mercedes believed they dropped 2 tenths on their lap. All the clues are there that Mclaren should have been a good chunk quicker (3-4 tenths) with Mercedes slotting just behind, as the previous races.

You sure you're not falling into the mind games trap that George and Max have so loudly been promoting that the McLaren drivers are doing a poor job? Fact is Piastri's time would have been quicker than what Max managed had he not had a sizeable tow towards turn 1. You may make your armchair pronouncement that S1 was "tentative" but it was purple until Max beat it - Max was quickest in S1 throughout Friday and Saturday if I'm not mistaken. George - well he has to make excuses for being a tenth off! Oscar's progression through Q looked pretty consistent with the gains you would expect - 1:27.901, 1:27.545, 1:27.304.

There's been so much use of "dominant" in talking about the McLaren, the reality is it is still the allrounder that last year's car was with two changes - it's slightly quicker in relative terms, but it's peak is trickier to hit. Everything looks consistent with that.

McLaren was fastest in S1 in all three practice sessions, in FP3 they had 3 tenths on the closest car in just that sector (the Merc). You barely gained any time between FP3 and Q3 despite a huge temperature drop and presumably draining some fuel. So clearly that wasn't the max, that was one guy crashing and one guy being tentative (maybe because of the crash).

[Mostlyeels]

You sure you're not falling into the mind games trap that George and Max have so loudly been promoting that the McLaren drivers are doing a poor job? Fact is Piastri's time would have been quicker than what Max managed had he not had a sizeable tow towards turn 1. You may make your armchair pronouncement that S1 was "tentative" but it was purple until Max beat it - Max was quickest in S1 throughout Friday and Saturday if I'm not mistaken. George - well he has to make excuses for being a tenth off! Oscar's progression through Q looked pretty consistent with the gains you would expect - 1:27.901, 1:27.545, 1:27.304.

There's been so much use of "dominant" in talking about the McLaren, the reality is it is still the allrounder that last year's car was with two changes - it's slightly quicker in relative terms, but it's peak is trickier to hit. Everything looks consistent with that.

It's interesting, I watched the F1 ghost lap of Max vs Oscar. The tow is significant, but Oscar brings it back in the T1 braking zone. The elastic really starts to stretch coming up to S2: Max is able to carry more speed through those complex of fast turns.

[genarro]

How is overtaking in this circuit?

[Ben1980]

How is overtaking in this circuit?

Tricky if you have a low top speed like the Mclarens.

[search]

last year it was one of the circuits with the least overtakes

[CjC]

last year it was one of the circuits with the least overtakes

https://i.imgur.com/Ip27dzI.jpeg

20 overtakes…. Lets hope Lando creates half of them

[Mcl_G10]

Surely the strategy for lando is to start on the hards and go very very long. I'd say that come second half of the race the chances are high for a safety car.

Also this will give the highest possibility of a mclaren win.

Only trouble is if there are cars ahead that are also starting on the hard (Hamilton?) as getting past and being the leading car on the alternative strategy will be key to how far up lando can finish.

Turn 1 with oscar and max is going to be tasty, both drivers know how important it is and both drivers are very cold blooded in wheel to wheel action.

[bluechris]

Turn 1 with oscar and max is going to be tasty, both drivers know how important it is and both drivers are very cold blooded in wheel to wheel action.

Nothing will happen between the two, they both have to loose too much but i cannot say the same for the hungry "lions" behind them.

[Ben1980]

I said before I'd like to see an Oscar and Max battle. This may be the time.

[Mcl_G10]

I said before I'd like to see an Oscar and Max battle. This may be the time.

Me also. Trouble is that overtaking is very difficult when cars are closely matched. This is why the start imo is so important and also why I think there will be a fight. Oscar knows that if he can get that first position on the opening lap then he can likely pull away from max towards the back end of the stint.
Of coarse this doesn't factor in safety cars but I think the race will be similar to suzuka and whilst over a race distance in race trim the mclaren has the edge it will all boil down to whether you can actually get past.

[mwillems]

S1 was tentative, lifting more than Max in the high speed despite more downforce. Maybe he got scared because of Lando's crash. Only 2 tenths quicker than Norris FP3 time. Norris leading Piastri all qualy until the crash. Stella saying the car had more potential. Mercedes believed they dropped 2 tenths on their lap. All the clues are there that Mclaren should have been a good chunk quicker (3-4 tenths) with Mercedes slotting just behind, as the previous races.

You sure you're not falling into the mind games trap that George and Max have so loudly been promoting that the McLaren drivers are doing a poor job? Fact is Piastri's time would have been quicker than what Max managed had he not had a sizeable tow towards turn 1. You may make your armchair pronouncement that S1 was "tentative" but it was purple until Max beat it - Max was quickest in S1 throughout Friday and Saturday if I'm not mistaken. George - well he has to make excuses for being a tenth off! Oscar's progression through Q looked pretty consistent with the gains you would expect - 1:27.901, 1:27.545, 1:27.304.

There's been so much use of "dominant" in talking about the McLaren, the reality is it is still the allrounder that last year's car was with two changes - it's slightly quicker in relative terms, but it's peak is trickier to hit. Everything looks consistent with that.

I think you misunderstood something. Mercedes was talking about their own underperformance, not that of Mclaren. Piastri was 1 tenth slower than Norris in Q1 and Q2. There are numerous reasons to suspect Piastri didn't do the fastest lap possible for a Mclaren.

Anyway, I'm not going to argue about this as I'm content with my understanding of the situation. If ever there should be any doubt, ponder for this for a moment. Lando Norris leads the championship despite mistakes at every single GP weekend. Russell and Verstappen who are the current top performers are several points back despite being nearly flawless. That's how dominant Mclaren are...Lando Norris has not even needed to drive well to lead it comfortably.

Mistakes at every weekend?

Hmmm, aside from the obvious poor qualy at Japan, in all the points scoring races so far he's done OK. Had he not screwed that race up he would have a clear lead, and had Oscar not had a rush of blood to the head in Australia hed be with him. Lando will likely drop now further back.

I feel like it's becoming more clear that the car can be dominant in the right conditions, including higher temps, higher deg surface and basically any track that induces deg. But we've only had one race that played to those strengths in Bahrain.

The same place the everyone made the assumption Mclaren would be dominant everywhere. It's the fastest car, but it is only selectively dominant and let's face it, Max is a better driver than both our guys.

[mwillems]

I said before I'd like to see an Oscar and Max battle. This may be the time.

Was thinking this yesterday. I have a fear that it could be messy!

[CjC]

How is overtaking in this circuit?

Tricky if you have a low top speed like the Mclarens.

As always I’m open to be proven wrong, even more so considering I don’t study the telemetry but I’ve just looked on F1 tempo and on the laps Verstappen and Oscar gunned for pole- Oscar had the higher top speed with DRS