2025 McLaren F1 Team

[bananapeel23]

I don't know what Ferrari plan was initially, but before the safety car, Leclerc was on the mediums, not softs.
Pointless to speculate, but Charles didn't have the pace to overtake Russell even with a 7 lap delta during the second stint. I doubt he would be able to get it done on track on the final stints even if the safety car doesn't interfere.

Sorry, it was a typo. I meant M-S-S. I think Leclerc was saving tyres behind Russell or waiting for the perfect time to go for a massive push lap and undercut, knowing that Mercedes would also go onto a set of softs.

I am fairly certain Ferrari started with the mediums because they would have liked to try the 1-stop and go to the hards later. But when the hards turned out to be sh*t, they pulled Leclerc in and put him on the mediums again for the 2-stopper.

They would have been on the softs for the final stint while everyone else would have been on the mediums. Leclerc would have had good pace for 5-6 laps and then would fall off the cliff. Russell managed it, but his pace was horrible. He finished 15 seconds behind Oscar in the end.

I don't think Ferrari had anything better than P3 in hand here, because Russell had really good pace. Leclerc wasn't managing, his pace just fizzled out, couldn't get closer to Russell on the second stint once the tire delta faded out. Of course, the safety car ruined whatever chances they had of getting Russell, but their options were really limited to begin with.

After going M-M they either push the middle stint long to go onto softs, or have a normal middle stint length but go onto hards. Both really bad options. They would have lost a lot of time if they went long on the middle stint.

You're still forgetting that Mercedes also went with softs for their last stint. Leclerc only needed to undercut Russell in order to get P2. If Leclerc gets by with an undercut, Russell is not passing him again with a one lap tyre offset on the same compound. Norris is definitely not passing both Russell and Leclerc if they get on the softs with fewer laps to go.

Leclerc himself clearly seems very disappointed with the safety car. He seemed to think he was reeling Russell in before the safety car, which implies that he was indeed saving tyres.

[Seerix]

I think Lando is having hard time with quali and overtakes as seen today, mostly because the car does not fit him, so he is fighting it (as he's been saying for a while now). Hopefully he manages to adapt to it quick.
Oscar on the other hand praised the car this whole weekend and year pretty much, it seems to be to his liking and he has easier time getting performance out of it.
Good race in the end. Still early days in the season.

[Emag]

You're still forgetting that Mercedes also went with softs for their last stint. Leclerc only needed to undercut Russell in order to get P2. If Leclerc gets by with an undercut, Russell is not passing him again with a one lap tyre offset on the same compound. Norris is definitely not passing both Russell and Leclerc if they get on the softs with fewer laps to go.

How can Leclerc undercut Russell when they pit 7 laps later than him for the first stint? Just remove the safety car variable when you're making these assumptions. If Leclerc tried to undercut Russell on stint 2, he would need to do at least 7 more laps than Russell in the final stint. He would be a sitting duck at the end.

[Ben1980]

Sorry, it was a typo. I meant M-S-S. I think Leclerc was saving tyres behind Russell or waiting for the perfect time to go for a massive push lap and undercut, knowing that Mercedes would also go onto a set of softs.

I am fairly certain Ferrari started with the mediums because they would have liked to try the 1-stop and go to the hards later. But when the hards turned out to be sh*t, they pulled Leclerc in and put him on the mediums again for the 2-stopper.

They would have been on the softs for the final stint while everyone else would have been on the mediums. Leclerc would have had good pace for 5-6 laps and then would fall off the cliff. Russell managed it, but his pace was horrible. He finished 15 seconds behind Oscar in the end.

I don't think Ferrari had anything better than P3 in hand here, because Russell had really good pace. Leclerc wasn't managing, his pace just fizzled out, couldn't get closer to Russell on the second stint once the tire delta faded out. Of course, the safety car ruined whatever chances they had of getting Russell, but their options were really limited to begin with.

After going M-M they either push the middle stint long to go onto softs, or have a normal middle stint length but go onto hards. Both really bad options. They would have lost a lot of time if they went long on the middle stint.

You're still forgetting that Mercedes also went with softs for their last stint. Leclerc only needed to undercut Russell in order to get P2. If Leclerc gets by with an undercut, Russell is not passing him again with a one lap tyre offset on the same compound. Norris is definitely not passing both Russell and Leclerc if they get on the softs with fewer laps to go.

Leclerc himself clearly seems very disappointed with the safety car. He seemed to think he was reeling Russell in before the safety car, which implies that he was indeed saving tyres.

I think Norris likely undercuts Leclerc and maybe Russell. Neither were pulling away from him on older tyres. And then not sure either take him on used softs.

[megasyxx2]

Is there still a point for fastest lap? Piastri shows 26

[bananapeel23]

You're still forgetting that Mercedes also went with softs for their last stint. Leclerc only needed to undercut Russell in order to get P2. If Leclerc gets by with an undercut, Russell is not passing him again with a one lap tyre offset on the same compound. Norris is definitely not passing both Russell and Leclerc if they get on the softs with fewer laps to go.

How can Leclerc undercut Russell when they pit 7 laps later than him for the first stint? Just remove the safety car variable when you're making these assumptions. If Leclerc tried to undercut Russell on stint 2, he would need to do at least 7 more laps than Russell in the final stint. He would be a sitting duck at the end.

Why would he need to do 7 laps more? He was sitting 1 second behind on fresher mediums. After a few more laps he could have pitted onto softs and made it to the end much more comfortably than Russell did.

[Ben1980]

I think Lando is having hard time with quali and overtakes as seen today, mostly because the car does not fit him, so he is fighting it (as he's been saying for a while now). Hopefully he manages to adapt to it quick.
Oscar on the other hand praised the car this whole weekend and year pretty much, it seems to be to his liking and he has easier time getting performance out of it.
Good race in the end. Still early days in the season.

It's all down to the car for him. He hasn't suddenly become worse, and Oscar hasn't turned into the reincarnation of Fangio. It's a very good car, where one has taken to easier than the other.

But even after that, Lando is still ahead, and if he does get comfortable it will be different.

[Ben1980]

Is there still a point for fastest lap? Piastri shows 26

http://www.geocities.ws/megasyxx/F1/202 ... irefox.jpg

No. It's a 3 point gap.

[Aesop]

I think Lando is having hard time with quali and overtakes as seen today, mostly because the car does not fit him, so he is fighting it (as he's been saying for a while now). Hopefully he manages to adapt to it quick.
Oscar on the other hand praised the car this whole weekend and year pretty much, it seems to be to his liking and he has easier time getting performance out of it.
Good race in the end. Still early days in the season.

Piastri has to be the favorite for the drivers championship now I guess. I still believe Norris to be the faster driver but the McLaren apparently suits Piastri more and Norris keeps making these silly mistakes.

[Darth-Piekus]

I think we should give Piastri credit. If Piastri can make the Mclaren car perform better than what Norris can then at the moment he is the better driver. He handled today's race like a champion. He did the perfect start, turned first, got out of DRS quickly and made a perfect restart on the SC ending. He was perfect from start to end with 0 mistakes.

[mwillems]

I think Lando is having hard time with quali and overtakes as seen todayi, mostly because the car does not fit him, so he is fighting it (as he's been saying for a while now). Hopefully he manages to adapt to it quick.
Oscar on the other hand praised the car this whole weekend and year pretty much, it seems to be to his liking and he has easier time getting performance out of it.
Good race in the end. Still early days in the season.

It's all down to the car for him. He hasn't suddenly become worse, and Oscar hasn't turned into the reincarnation of Fangio. It's a very good car, where one has taken to easier than the other.

But even after that, Lando is still ahead, and if he does get comfortable it will be different.

In the race I think Lando was just being Lando. He found the pace again today and somehow made several mistakes.

He was capable of challenging Oscar on pace, or at least getting close, but he bungled it through silly mistakes, whereas Oscar just drove a measured race. Since his struggles are on one lap pace when the car is on the edge, he can't afford days like this.

Let's see how the next few races go but Oscar is doing a stellar job.

[Ben1980]

I think Lando is having hard time with quali and overtakes as seen todayi, mostly because the car does not fit him, so he is fighting it (as he's been saying for a while now). Hopefully he manages to adapt to it quick.
Oscar on the other hand praised the car this whole weekend and year pretty much, it seems to be to his liking and he has easier time getting performance out of it.
Good race in the end. Still early days in the season.

It's all down to the car for him. He hasn't suddenly become worse, and Oscar hasn't turned into the reincarnation of Fangio. It's a very good car, where one has taken to easier than the other.

But even after that, Lando is still ahead, and if he does get comfortable it will be different.

In the race I think Lando was just being Lando. He found the pace again today and somehow made several mistakes.

He was capable of challenging Oscar on pace, or at least getting close, but he bungled it, whereas Oscar just drove a measured race.

Let's see how the next few races go but he's doing a stellar job.

The issue seems to qualifying for Lando rather than the race. Today he was a bit like Lando trying to battle through. And how he can be.

I think, he would have likely pushed Oscar on a tyre deg track, as Oscar didn't really need to do anything.

I'd like to see Lando get back to the top in qualifying but also like to see Oscar have to fight through like Lando did. Just to see it.

[CjC]

Imagine being on here in 2022 and someone tells you in 2025 only a rain shower will spoil a clean sweep of double podiums in the opening 4 races.
Whatever happens just remember how far the team has come

[mwillems]

It's all down to the car for him. He hasn't suddenly become worse, and Oscar hasn't turned into the reincarnation of Fangio. It's a very good car, where one has taken to easier than the other.

But even after that, Lando is still ahead, and if he does get comfortable it will be different.

In the race I think Lando was just being Lando. He found the pace again today and somehow made several mistakes.

He was capable of challenging Oscar on pace, or at least getting close, but he bungled it, whereas Oscar just drove a measured race.

Let's see how the next few races go but he's doing a stellar job.

The issue seems to qualifying for Lando rather than the race. Today he was a bit like Lando trying to battle through. And how he can be.

I think, he would have likely pushed Oscar on a tyre deg track, as Oscar didn't really need to do anything.

I'd like to see Lando get back to the top in qualifying but also like to see Oscar have to fight through like Lando did. Just to see it.

Yeah i was adding that as you replied, it is one lap pace.

But, let's not pretend that Lando always struggle with a tricky car on the edge. This isn't new. The way Oscars driving there is a real risk it will lose him a championship.

[Emag]

You're still forgetting that Mercedes also went with softs for their last stint. Leclerc only needed to undercut Russell in order to get P2. If Leclerc gets by with an undercut, Russell is not passing him again with a one lap tyre offset on the same compound. Norris is definitely not passing both Russell and Leclerc if they get on the softs with fewer laps to go.

How can Leclerc undercut Russell when they pit 7 laps later than him for the first stint? Just remove the safety car variable when you're making these assumptions. If Leclerc tried to undercut Russell on stint 2, he would need to do at least 7 more laps than Russell in the final stint. He would be a sitting duck at the end.

Why would he need to do 7 laps more? He was sitting 1 second behind on fresher mediums. After a few more laps he could have pitted onto softs and made it to the end much more comfortably than Russell did.

Sorry, because i was thinking of Norris. Leclerc pit only 4 laps after Russell, not 7. Anyway, If you pit later than your rival for the first stint, and then pit earlier than him on the second stint, you're just going to kill your tire delta advantage. The fact that the hard was so bad in this race really hurts Leclerc's options as well.

Let me give you a concrete example, with an hypothetical Bahrain where there is no safety car.

First Stint
RUS pits first on lap 13, goes S -> M
LEC pits second on lap 17, goes M -> M
==== Leclerc only does 4 more laps that Russell on a harder tire, doesn't bode well for his later stints

Second Stint
*LEC pits first on lap ~35 (unlikely Russell pits later than this, his tires would already be 22 laps old by this point) to undercut Russell, goes M -> H (cannot go soft, because he would have to do too many laps on a used soft tyre at this point)
*RUS pits second on lap 36, goes M -> M (has this option since he started with the softs)
==== Assume Leclerc manages the undercut and comes out in front

That leaves us with the Third Final Stint
Russel likely really close behind Leclerc, 20 laps to go
Leclerc has track position, but no tire delta for the final stint and on a horrible hard tire.

I don't think there is any chance Leclerc holds a Russell on the mediums for 20 laps on horrible hards. And I didn't even include Lando in this scenario, which might have even undercut them both.