AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

McLaren’s Hidden Speed: A Dark Horse for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix Victory?

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 15, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
McLaren’s Strategy for F1 2025: Equal Ground for Piastri and Norris amid Championship Ambitions

Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Practice - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 14, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris during practice REUTERS/Edgar Su

The data from the second Free Practice session at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix paints a picture that could spell trouble for McLaren’s competitors. McLaren, having locked up a 2-3 finish at the Albert Park Circuit, appear to be in a position of strength, a development that could send a shiver down the grid.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, McLaren’s star drivers, trailed behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by a mere 0.124 and 0.141 respectively. This gives the Scuderia team a glimmer of hope, hinting at a possible comeback that could thrust them back into contention for the top spot.

However, a closer examination of the data reveals a different narrative. The figures from the Free Practice session suggest that Andrea Stella’s team still have more speed to unlock and could potentially outpace the Italians by 0.170, leaving Red Bull and Mercedes in the rear-view mirror during the qualifying phase.

While Ferrari seemingly held the upper hand in high-speed and low-speed corners on paper, experts suggest that the team may have deployed a strategy involving higher fuel load and reduced downforce to conceal their true capabilities. Moreover, Ferrari enjoyed a 0.3 advantage on Melbourne’s straights. By trimming their car to add downforce for cornering, they could potentially retain their net advantage and regain competitiveness in high-speed corners, all while improving braking and entry in low-speed corners.

Should Ferrari execute this strategy, it could also result in better tyre conservation during the race, thereby improving their race pace. If this is the case, they could potentially boast a 0.210 advantage over Ferrari, leaving Mercedes and Red Bull trailing by 0.030 and 0.070 respectively.

All of this points to a potentially thrilling battle for the podium. Yet, McLaren seems to be in a league of their own when it comes to vying for the Grand Prix win. The data suggests that Norris and Piastri could be the ones to watch, hinting at an exclusive contest for victory between the two and serving a stern warning to their rivals at the 2025 Australian GP.

As for Williams, the data paints a less promising picture. Despite a surprising performance in testing and the season’s first FP1 session that saw Carlos Sainz finish second, the team is expected to be significantly off the pace in the race.

The data predicts that Williams will be trailing by 0.630 behind McLaren’s pace and 0.314 behind the expected tussle between Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull. Even though Sainz’s chances of repeating his 2024 Australian GP win seem slim, it would be unwise to rule out a good performance from Williams just yet. The qualifying sessions could still hold surprises, with Williams being in a position to strike.

To conclude, while McLaren and Ferrari seem to be the front runners for the pole position, Williams, Red Bull and the Silver Arrows are not far behind. A single misstep from Max Verstappen, Liam Lawson, George Russell or Kimi Antonelli could open up opportunities for Sainz and Albon.

Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

Max Verstappen reveals shocking F1 retirement thoughts: is his racing career nearing the end?
Motorsports

Max Verstappen reveals shocking F1 retirement thoughts: is his racing career nearing the end?

Max Verstappen Raises Eyebrows: Is Retirement on the Horizon for the F1 Superstar? In a shocking revelation that has sent...

by James Taylor
February 19, 2026
Red Bull Racing secures groundbreaking long-term deal with Visa: a new era in F1 sponsorship
Motorsports

Red Bull Racing secures groundbreaking long-term deal with Visa: a new era in F1 sponsorship

Red Bull Racing Unleashes a New Era with Visa Sponsorship Deal! In a thrilling announcement that’s set to shake the...

by Carl Smith
February 19, 2026
IndyCar revolutionizes global reach: brace for thrilling 2026 broadcast expansion!
Motorsports

IndyCar revolutionizes global reach: brace for thrilling 2026 broadcast expansion!

IndyCar Set to Ignite Global Audiences with Unprecedented Broadcast Expansion for 2026 Season Get ready, racing fans! The iconic NTT...

by Miguel Cunha
February 19, 2026
Lando Norris echoes Max Verstappen’s concerns: F1’s energy management crisis revealed!
Motorsports

Lando Norris echoes Max Verstappen’s concerns: F1’s energy management crisis revealed!

Lando Norris Drops Bombshell: “I Agree with Max Verstappen” on F1’s New Regulations! In a sensational revelation, McLaren’s star driver...

by Simon Monroy
February 19, 2026

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent News

Max Verstappen reveals shocking F1 retirement thoughts: is his racing career nearing the end?

Max Verstappen reveals shocking F1 retirement thoughts: is his racing career nearing the end?

February 19, 2026
Red Bull Racing secures groundbreaking long-term deal with Visa: a new era in F1 sponsorship

Red Bull Racing secures groundbreaking long-term deal with Visa: a new era in F1 sponsorship

February 19, 2026
IndyCar revolutionizes global reach: brace for thrilling 2026 broadcast expansion!

IndyCar revolutionizes global reach: brace for thrilling 2026 broadcast expansion!

February 19, 2026
Lando Norris echoes Max Verstappen’s concerns: F1’s energy management crisis revealed!

Lando Norris echoes Max Verstappen’s concerns: F1’s energy management crisis revealed!

February 19, 2026

Newsletter

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

MSports Play Icon
MSports Play
The New streaming service
Download
×
No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.