The 2004 Schumacher record that still motivates McLaren’s boss
Among Formula 1’s most famous ones that got away is the 1988 season, where McLaren would have won every single race had Ayrton Senna not tangled with Jean-Louis Schlesser’s tardy Williams in the closing laps of the Italian Grand Prix, is Michael Schumacher’s 2004 season in what was also among the most dominant F1 cars […]
The one improvement that’s helped Piastri fight for 2025 F1 title
Oscar Piastri has demonstrated improved tyre management sensibilities across the 2025 Formula 1 season so far, which McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says is testament to the Australian’s work with the squad’s engineers. One of the criticisms levelled at Piastri in his first two F1 seasons, with regards to his gap to Lando Norris, was that […]
What McLaren must learn from 2024 to secure both F1 championships in 2025
Red Bull was a formidable Formula 1 team in 2024, but a late surge from McLaren threatened to topple the squad and snatch both titles from under its nose. But just as a real challenge from McLaren was materialising, cracks started to form, and it could only take the constructors’ crown last season. Now, with […]
How big is Red Bull’s challenge in F1 2025?
The pattern after the first six Formula 1 weekends of 2025 is clear: Max Verstappen can compete with McLaren over a single lap and compensate for some weaknesses himself, but on most Sundays he and Red Bull simply don’t have the tools to fight the papaya cars over a full race distance. The explanation for […]
The 2025 F1 McLaren is faster
As if there was any doubt, McLaren’s crushing 1-2 win in Formula 1’s Miami Grand Prix further confirmed that the papaya team remains well on top in racing conditions, especially when rear tyre wear is critical. But why is Max Verstappen regularly beating Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to pole as well? Piastri led Norris […]
McLaren to exit Formula E in order to focus on WEC entry
McLaren will withdraw from Formula E at the end of the current 2024-25 season, following its recent announcement that it would be entering the World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class in 2027. The British squad took over from Mercedes at the start of the Gen3 era, introduced in the 2022-23 campaign, as the German marque sold […]
Do the McLaren drivers’ opposing mindsets signify strength or weakness?
Poker players have a word for Lando Norris’s response to adversity: “leaky”. In a game of bluff and counter-bluff, allowing emotions to manifest outwardly is certainly a disadvantage and a weakness. Is it also the case in a Formula 1 driver? There are those who would argue so, saying this is a brutal dog-eat-dog world […]
How McLaren moved the goalposts amid another F1 rivalry
“Ayrton, we’ve decided to forget the Rio test. We’ll shake the new cars down at Silverstone instead, on Thursday and Friday of this week…” Ron Dennis let the words hang in the air, and with a broad grin listened for the world champion’s response across the 5000-mile telephone link separating Rio from McLaren International’s Woking […]
How can Verstappen win F1 Saudi GP, and how will Norris move up?
Jeddah’s fast and furious street race is shaping up to be an enthralling contest, thanks to several cars which are starting out of position. At the front there is Red Bull’s pole sitter Max Verstappen, who will be desperately fighting off the faster McLaren of Oscar Piastri. Then there is Lando Norris — starting 10th […]