Congratulations to Max on guaranteeing his fifth WDC next weekend.
McLaren putting on a Ferrari-level master class on how to throw away a WDC.
McLaren putting on a Ferrari-level master class on how to throw away a WDC.
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2025 Formula One Season Thread
- Thread starter The-Real-Deal82
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I can’t remember seeing a Championship Winning Car be so crippled by its team. McLaren is unbelievable.
Congratulations to Carlos on another podium. Sooo happy for him.
Incredible performance from Red Bull. Max and the team.
Edit: Hannah on the podium with Max. 🙂
Congratulations to Carlos on another podium. Sooo happy for him.
Incredible performance from Red Bull. Max and the team.
Edit: Hannah on the podium with Max. 🙂
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While I believe he went off on his own, I would believe that he did it under orders from Toto because AMG Powertrains do not want a WDC powered by Honda.
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Haven’t seen a single lap of the race but sounds like McLaren are imploding under the pressure. I know they’ve already won the championship they are interested in but still, they have 2 drivers that could be the drivers champion. At least they are demonstrating equal treatment and how allowing it to the final race can be costly. They won’t be too disappointed if Max gets it but their drivers certainly will.
I saw yesterday how social media played the drive to survive crowd with a shot of Lando’s side of the garage and expected them to be jumping for joy at Oscar's pole lol. The team is split down the middle right now and we should be thankful McLaren are doing this, very few teams allow this level of internal competition. This feels like 2016 all over again. Lando just needs a second or third place in Abu Dhabi to be world champion. We can then have the offseason debating why Max is the greatest of all time and how Lando is only winning because of the car lol. I think whoever of the three who win, bloody deserve it at this point.
I saw yesterday how social media played the drive to survive crowd with a shot of Lando’s side of the garage and expected them to be jumping for joy at Oscar's pole lol. The team is split down the middle right now and we should be thankful McLaren are doing this, very few teams allow this level of internal competition. This feels like 2016 all over again. Lando just needs a second or third place in Abu Dhabi to be world champion. We can then have the offseason debating why Max is the greatest of all time and how Lando is only winning because of the car lol. I think whoever of the three who win, bloody deserve it at this point.
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This is where Zak is always going to be the problem. Wether it’s F1, Indy Car, WEC, or United Autosports. He only really cares about the Constructors wins and the revenue they generate. Papaya Rules is a feel good approach. Not a strategy for the leader in the WDC. Zak doesn’t give a dam about the WDC yesterday, today, or tomorrow. He’s already cashed his check. It’s just who he is.
McLaren really are hopeless. Throwing away a victory?
Plastri definitely needs to find a different team or get number 1 status written into his McLaren deal in future.
Now Verstappen might win the drivers championship. Zak should do the only honourable thing and resign.
I can envision that. I minimize the engine manufacturer with the WDC too often. I’m always thinking WCC.
Lando got this. Dont worry lads.
Just chill.
Just chill.
Lando should win this, as long as McLaren stays within the rules and doesn’t mess up the strategy.
Oscar needs to leave McLaren if he wants a number one contract as they’ve never done that and it’s totally not McLaren. Ferrari and Red Bull are the only teams I know of that have openly practiced that approach. Ferrari not so much these days with current management.
He should, just needs a podium in the final race. McLaren are playing a dangerous game now with Max in the middle of the two drivers but it’s what they do.
What a mess. To be fair to McLaren they chose not to pit as it was very early. Then everyone else pitted. If it was more like 50/50 split of people stopping then Max would have lost out with 10 cars to pass to get back to the front.
It could have gone either way. The safe thing to do would have been to have split the strategy and bring one in. But that would have had huge consequences for the WDC.
Lando clearly couldn’t get over the loss. He needs to pick himself up for next week. He’s still in the lead. He just needs to finish 1sr, 2nd or 3rd next week. It would be a disaster if he didn’t. But one issue or mistimed SC and it could be game over.
Oscar and Sainz are my drivers of the day. I bet Sainz is looking at his old Ferrari seat and feeling quite relieved!
It could have gone either way. The safe thing to do would have been to have split the strategy and bring one in. But that would have had huge consequences for the WDC.
Lando clearly couldn’t get over the loss. He needs to pick himself up for next week. He’s still in the lead. He just needs to finish 1sr, 2nd or 3rd next week. It would be a disaster if he didn’t. But one issue or mistimed SC and it could be game over.
Oscar and Sainz are my drivers of the day. I bet Sainz is looking at his old Ferrari seat and feeling quite relieved!
Firstly I want to say, I am DISGUSTED with McLaren AND the FIA for looking at ‘reducing’ penalties for illegal wear on the ‘plank’ underneath the car, a safety measure born out of the deaths of two drivers including Senna! Everyone else is disqualified for it but just because of McLaren being penalised shaking up their championship they want to change the punishment over illegal wear of a vital safety measure? Disgusted and I believe Senna’s family are too as it was his legacy to the sport… they knew they were riding too low, they threw the dice and lost.
Right, as for today, McLaren AGAIN screwed up their strategy ( I’ll have to start calling them Ferrari at this point), they EASILY had space to pit like Max, it is entirely their own fault, again, so we are now down to THE final race!! YES!
And Red Bull and Max came from a 120 odd points deficit mid season, their team principle being fired, a totally new principle coming in mid way through the season, a car underperforming, a team finding it’s feat without Newey.. and they STILL are good enough to take the championship down to the literal wire being major contenders to win the season. No mater what you think of them, THAT is a professional competitive top tier team.
Also well done Williams and Sienz Smoooooth Operator!
Max and Red Bull totally deserve to win this year with their performance, McLaren do not due to their lack of performance, not Oscar and Lando but the team.
Right, as for today, McLaren AGAIN screwed up their strategy ( I’ll have to start calling them Ferrari at this point), they EASILY had space to pit like Max, it is entirely their own fault, again, so we are now down to THE final race!! YES!
And Red Bull and Max came from a 120 odd points deficit mid season, their team principle being fired, a totally new principle coming in mid way through the season, a car underperforming, a team finding it’s feat without Newey.. and they STILL are good enough to take the championship down to the literal wire being major contenders to win the season. No mater what you think of them, THAT is a professional competitive top tier team.
Also well done Williams and Sienz Smoooooth Operator!
Max and Red Bull totally deserve to win this year with their performance, McLaren do not due to their lack of performance, not Oscar and Lando but the team.
You should have kept quiet… you jinxed it… lol.
Seems some of you are new to F1.. NOTHING is in the bag EVER until it is firmly in there and that chequered flag is waved at the finish line!!… It only takes one crash, one safety car and bang everything changes.
The driver press conference with he and Lewis was hilarious. Lewis was effectively "I just want this season to be over" and Sainz was staring daggers at his backside.
But with Leclerc also struggling mightily, I expect Sainz is happier at Williams.
When Max woke up Monday morning after the Sunday Zandvoort race, he was out of the WDC title race, NO CHANCE.. 1 race 1st place he may win a title... I still cannot believe how badly the Mcmorons stuck this WDC title in the hedge.. Boggles the mind.. By the time you start school, you know who mommy and daddy love the most [clue it is not you..] McMorons should have said PawPaw rules, and Lando you are it.. Congrats on the title.. Sorry Pies we chose Lando, cause.. But no..stupid papaya rules, well if you know anything about pawpaw, we eat it for a reason... Mcmorons proved this to be true..
If Max wins the WDC at Abu Dhabi (and I believe he will), it will be the greatest comeback (in terms of a points deficit) in the history of the sport.
It will also be the greatest collapse in the history of the sport for McLaren.
It will also be the greatest collapse in the history of the sport for McLaren.
I think it just demonstrates the polarising tactics of the two teams. Red Bull sorted their balance issues out mid season and Max is the teams sole focus, plus he's had 2 teammates this year that struggle with the car, so he's had no internal competition. Combine that with him being one of the best drivers on the grid and he's in a very fortunate position. McLaren have done what they always do and play it fair to both drivers, something that wasn't so crucial in the constructors championship, but has created this situation going into the final race. If they had picked a driver and given that one driver the priority (not picking either specifically), then they'd have won the drivers title about 4 races ago. The tension inside McLaren right now must be intense, as they are managing two egos and the title is theirs to lose. Max has been here before and will calmy do his thing. All he has to do is win the race, he can't control what happens with McLaren. Oscar has the biggest pressure and needs Lando to retire and for Max to finish behind him, Lando just needs the podium.
I think McLaren's biggest collapse was 2007. Two very capable drivers and like now, McLaren refused to favour one over the other, even when Alonso really should have been sacked mid season. Getting to the final race and letting Kimi sneak in that final win was incredible. The only people who could really walk out of that with some degree of satisfaction was World Champion Kimi and Lewis Hamilton who emerged on the scene with an impressive season out of McLarens implosion of chaos lol.
Red Bull 'sincerely regret' abuse faced by Antonelli
Red Bull have stated that comments made about Kimi Antonelli in Qatar were "clearly incorrect", after the Mercedes rookie faced abuse online.
Lando can finish second and still win. But if Max is winning and Oscar and Lando are second and third, will Oscar pull over and let Lando through?
I think team management are okay with losing the WDC. Maybe they even want to, just to save the months of both driver's fans ripping into the team on social media for "doing their man dirty".
I can only presume the team's sponsors care only for the CC and not the WDC. Because otherwise I cannot see how they would not have been putting immense pressure on team management to pick one and get it done.
Oscar can only win the title if Lando and Max finish outside the Top 5, but I expect even if they qualify Lando, Oscar and Max the team will let Oscar race Lando and ignore Max.
I can only presume the team's sponsors care only for the CC and not the WDC. Because otherwise I cannot see how they would not have been putting immense pressure on team management to pick one and get it done.
Oscar can only win the title if Lando and Max finish outside the Top 5, but I expect even if they qualify Lando, Oscar and Max the team will let Oscar race Lando and ignore Max.