McLaren have the fastest Formula 1 car on the grid currently and they may be about to extend their advantage at the front after the Spanish Grand Prix.
An incoming FIA technical directive, aimed at tackling the flexibility of front wings, will affect the performance of some teams negatively.
McLaren are in a good position and shouldn’t be hit by the changes too much, which is good news for their constructors’ championship charge.
The Spanish Grand Prix could very well signal the end of any threat to their title aspirations, if the likes of Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari are impacted by the alterations.
McLaren have an advantage over Max Verstappen, which they are expected to utilise in Spain this weekend, with larger cooling louvres which will allow them to push their car to its limits more than Red Bull.
Lando Norris did something ‘many’ didn’t expect by putting in an excellent performance to win at the Monaco Grand Prix. It was perfect timing for the Brit, who has struggled for large spells in 2025.
READ MORE: Lando Norris makes Max Verstappen ‘worst’ moment comment on his way to winning the Monaco Grand Prix
McLaren avoided hit from ‘much more important’ FIA directive ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix
One of McLaren’s key strengths is their ability to create such a wide operating window for the Pirelli tyres to work within. It means that they can be fast in almost every condition.
The last technical directive arrived back in Imola and addressed the materials of the brakes – an essential part of managing the temperature of tyres.
According to Bianca Garloff, they were meant to hit the Woking-based outfit harder than the new flexi wing rules, but they don’t appear to have lost any pace. Maybe they got away pretty well with them.
“Yes, there are of course rumours that McLaren will have to scale back, although we heard before Imola or in Imola that there were new technical directives from the FIA that particularly affected McLaren,” she said.
“It’s about the materials, I think of the brake ventilation. McLaren is particularly good at keeping the tyres in the right temperature window, not letting them overheat, but still getting them working quickly.
“So in that respect, perhaps that was the much more important directive of this whole thing.”
READ MORE: Jacques Villeneuve makes Lando Norris comment after overcoming McLaren ‘problem’ at the Monaco Grand Prix
Karun Chandhok spotted Lando Norris doing something ‘unbelievable’ for McLaren in Monaco
With just three points between their drivers at the top of the standings, McLaren’s rivals aren’t going to be their only tricky battle this year. They have to manage inter-team turbulence too.
With no clear number one, they will have to let their drivers battle it out, as they have done so far and did so cleanly in Imola.
Norris did something ‘unbelievable’ in Monaco, with ex-Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok being stunned at how he kept his car out of the wall.
His teammate Oscar Piastri had made life at McLaren more ‘difficult’ in 2025 by finally hitting his stride in qualifying.
However, points are scored on a Sunday, and he will have to continue to race well if he wants to keep hold of the lead the top of the championship.
Leave feedback about this