Max Verstappen pin points the areas where McLaren has done well to retain its performance at the top of the F1 field, as he credits the team for doing an excellent job.
After the changes made from 2022 season, Red Bull initially found success but the subsequent updates in 2024, things started to dip. After a dominant 2023, it fell through in 2024 and they have dipped further in the ongoing 2025 F1 season, especially against McLaren.
By and by Ferrari and Mercedes have overpowered either as well, but their biggest loss has been against McLaren. The Woking-based outfit has risen dramatically since last year. They took away the constructors’ title from Red Bull in 2024 and will repeat the same in 2025.
Additionally, they are more or less destined to win the drivers’ title too. Looking at the car from close quarters, Red Bull’s Verstappen has pointed towards its tyre management. He notes how the car is smoother on the tyres, which is allowing a strategic advantage over their F1 rivals.
The medium corner speed is impressive too as per Verstappen. “Well, it’s definitely better on its tyres,” he said to media when asked about the McLaren car. “You can keep the tyres alive a lot nicer. You can clearly see that in the wet on the Intermediates. If you have good tyre management, it even comes out more on that tyre.
“Because the tyre is more fragile, it overheats even faster. And they definitely have that very well under control. At the same time, I think their medium speed performance is incredible, compared to, I would say, everyone else on the grid – the rotation that they have on the front axle. So, without losing the rear is something that is also quite incredible to see.
“And that’s something that we need to try and achieve,” summed up Verstappen. Even though he managed to secure the F1 title last year, the Dutchman notes he came into F1 2025 with a neutral mindset. He knew he can win races here and there, but always thought the title would be tough.
“I never… I just stay neutral and everything, so I don’t become overly optimistic or pessimistic or whatever,” continued Verstappen. “So I was like, ‘Well, we’ll see. I hope, of course, that we can still win some races here and there.’ And, I mean, we still did that.
“We still won two races. But, yeah, it is tough. But at the other end, you need to acknowledge that McLaren has done a fantastic job, from last year to this year, and then, from our side, it’s been a bit more difficult,” summed up Verstappen.
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