P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has proclaimed that McLaren’s unrivalled advantage in F1 is not exclusively down to how the team’s 2025 car interacts with the current tyres.
Max Verstappen stated that McLaren’s dominance in Formula 1 is not solely attributed to their 2025 car’s performance with the current tyres. The upgrade package McLaren introduced at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix elevated them to the forefront of the sport, leading to their domination in the 2025 season with 11 wins in 14 races. McLaren’s success has been scrutinized for their ability to optimize tyre performance without overheating, especially in medium-speed corners. While some theories of water cooling circulated, McLaren’s unmatched performance in cornering on both single laps and race settings has been key to their success.
Verstappen acknowledged McLaren’s superior tyre management and medium-speed cornering capabilities compared to Red Bull’s RB21. McLaren’s Technical Director, Andrea Stella, affirmed that McLaren has excelled in mid-corner speeds, as observed through GPS data. Despite McLaren’s weaknesses on high-speed and very low-speed circuits, their overall performance in medium-speed corners has been unrivaled in the championship, aligning with Verstappen’s assessment. McLaren’s strategic compromise with the MCL39 has solidified their position as the team to beat in F1 2025.
