After claiming last year’s constructors title, McLaren head into 2025 with the aim of claiming both Championships. Zak Brown has expressed confidence that the team can make another step forward over the winter.
Despite intense competition across the field, there is good reason for the McLaren CEO to be optimistic.
McLaren aim for a big step
At first glance, the top four teams were closely matched at the end of last season. Whilst McLaren enjoyed an advantage, they were closely followed by Ferrari and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.
Even Mercedes, whose COTA updates were initially difficult to optimise, claimed a dominant 1-2 at the Las Vegas GP.
However, there are a combination of indicators that suggest McLaren can consolidate their position at the front in 2025.
Over recent weeks, there has been plenty of analysis into the aggressive development at Ferrari. Fred Vasseur’s team are very openly taking an ambitious approach with their 2025 challenger.
Significant changes are being made, both from a mechanical and aerodynamic perspective.
Ferrari’s decision to change their front suspension is evidence enough of their intentions to revolutionise their previous concept.
Ironically, it was their failed Spanish GP upgrade package that inspired Maranello to revise their platform for 2025.
Andrea Stella: McLaren aren’t satisfied
For all the focus on the Italian team’s approach, McLaren are also in ‘attack mode’ this winter.
Team principal Andrea Stella has previously discussed the kind of alterations being implemented:
“We are approaching 2025 by focusing on innovation,” AutoRacer quotes him as saying.
“Already halfway through the season, when there were important choices to make on next year’s car, we understood that improving with small increments would not be enough.
“Consequently, in 2025 we will see an innovative McLaren.
“We hope that this can add a margin of performance, making the races less tense, but perhaps a little more boring.”
From the neutral perspective, McLaren’s vision for a more ‘boring’ season certainly won’t be endorsed. However, for the Woking squad, it is understandable that establishing a bigger advantage over their rivals is the target.
After all, for all their pace last season, they lacked the cutting edge to claw the gap to Max Verstappen.
READ MORE: Why Hamilton’s 2025 Ferrari will shock the grid
More smooth sailing?
Over the last eighteen months, McLaren have been almost faultless with their development.
All new components since mid-2023 have worked as intended, with the British team rapidly climbing up the grid.
With a completely new set of regulations approaching, this year could be McLaren’s best chance in the foreseeable future to claim both Championship.
Thankfully for Andrea Stella’s personnel, they enter 2025 as favourites.
Unlike Red Bull or even Mercedes, who were still understanding their updates in the final rounds of last year, the papaya outfit shifted their focus to this year relatively early.
Much like Ferrari, resources at McLaren were diverted to this season’s challenger relatively soon.
Thanks to the team’s accurate correlation between the wind tunnel and the track, McLaren have been able to push ahead with development. The question marks following Red Bull, Mercedes and even Ferrari are virtually non-existent at Woking.
The FIA’s recent confirmation of a technical directive (to be implemented at the Spanish GP) will not affect the British team – who were reportedly on board with these changes.
In every direction you look, there are positive indications for Andrea Stella’s personnel.
