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McLaren Balances 2025 Title Pursuit with 2026 Overhaul: ‘We Want to Win Both’

Redação by Redação
January 8, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Max Verstappen Dismisses McLaren’s ‘Papaya Rules’: “I Wouldn’t Put Up With That Nonsense”

Nov 22, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; McLaren Formula 1 Team driver Lando Norris of Great Britain (4) drives during practice for the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 at the Las Vegas Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

As McLaren eyes a repeat of its triumphant 2024 season, the Woking-based squad is tackling one of its toughest challenges yet: staying at the top in 2025 while laying the groundwork for Formula 1’s seismic 2026 regulation changes. With Lando Norris delivering McLaren’s first Constructors’ Championship in decades and the team hungry for a double title next season, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Despite the looming overhaul, McLaren insists it won’t compromise its bid to claim both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles in 2025. Instead, the team is determined to continue pushing the limits of its 2025 car while simultaneously navigating the tricky transition to the 2026 regulations.

The Challenge of Balancing the Present and Future

Starting this year, teams are permitted to use wind tunnels to develop their 2026 cars, creating a dilemma over resource allocation. This is particularly significant for McLaren, which now faces reduced aerodynamic testing time as reigning champions under F1’s sliding scale system.

Neil Houldey, McLaren’s Engineering Technical Director, has acknowledged the difficulty of balancing 2025’s ambitions with the demands of 2026. However, he emphasized that staying competitive in 2025 is non-negotiable:
“You’re not going to win 2025 without development. Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari will all be pushing hard, and we’ve got to be right there with them if we want to win.”

Why 2025 Remains McLaren’s Priority

Unlike Red Bull’s plateau in development during its dominant 2023 season, McLaren sees significant room for improvement. Houldey outlined the team’s plan to refine the MCL38’s successor and enhance every aspect of its operations.
“We know the car can go faster. We can develop it further. But beyond the car, the whole team can become more effective and efficient in generating performance.”

This relentless focus on extracting every ounce of performance has guided McLaren’s decision to prioritize 2025, ensuring the team remains a championship threat.

Aiming for Back-to-Back Glory While Preparing for 2026

While the 2026 regulations promise to shake up the grid, McLaren believes its long-term success hinges on not losing momentum next year. Houldey reaffirmed the team’s commitment to excelling on both fronts:
“We see an opportunity to win in 2025 and 2026. We want to do both, but achieving that starts with delivering another exceptional season in 2025.”

What’s at Stake for McLaren

As McLaren prepares to face fierce competition from Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes, its ability to maintain peak performance while laying the foundation for the 2026 overhaul will be critical. With reduced aero testing time and increased scrutiny as reigning champions, McLaren’s path to another title will be anything but easy.

But one thing is clear: McLaren isn’t just looking to defend its crown—it’s out to prove it can dominate in the present while shaping the future of Formula 1.

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