McLaren makes a crazy bet with its MCL39
No longer cautious, now daring! The British team is preparing a very extreme » MCL39 «, with innovations inspired by the 2026 rules. It's a risky gamble, but one that could well put the team at the top of the championship this year.
The 2025 Formula 1 season hasn’t started yet, but one thing is certain: McLaren doesn’t plan on being a minor player. After winning the constructor’s title in 2024, there’s no resting on their laurels. McLaren announces a very extreme MCL39, according to a report by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
This announcement comes with a change of mentality within the team. Gone are the days when McLaren just wanted to be competitive; now, the goal is clear: to dominate the grid and beat everyone. Andrea Stella, McLaren F1 Team Principal, stated this as early as last November: « This also gives us a lot of confidence as we prepare for the 2025 season. » The MCL39 will not be a mere evolution of the MCL38, but a completely rethought car, with bold technical choices and a calculated risk approach.
A revolutionary design to stay ahead
The 2026 F1 will bring a major new technical regulation, particularly on aerodynamics and power units. But McLaren does not want to wait until 2026 to start working on these innovations. Rob Marshall, the team’s technical director, told La Gazzetta dello Sport that some concepts from the future 2026 regulations will already be tested this year. A bold strategy aimed at getting ahead of the competition by anticipating the upcoming changes now. The goal? To test solutions now that could make a difference in two years. « We have elements on next year’s car that represent a bold risk », explains Zak Brown. What do we know so far? McLaren could introduce new aerodynamic features and test suspension concepts adapted to future regulations. It’s a daring bet, but potentially rewarding.
McLaren is not the only one looking to revolutionize its car in 2025. Ferrari is also preparing a major transformation of its SF-25, with a particular focus on the front suspension. The Italian team will introduce a rod system, a solution already tested by Red Bull in 2023, which could offer an advantage in terms of handling and cornering stability. Unlike McLaren, which seems to want to reinvent everything, Ferrari opts for a controlled evolution of its car by integrating elements already tested but optimized for 2025. A contrast in strategy that accentuates the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming season. In this technological battle, it’s hard to say who will be right, but one thing is certain: “At McLaren, we focus on ourselves. There is no particular adversary we could prioritize,” says Andrea Stella, the director of the British team.
Brilliant bet or risky gamble?
The risk with a car so extreme is shooting ourselves in the foot. An overly innovative single-seater can be difficult to understand and exploit from the start of the season. And in the meantime, Red Bull could continue to play the consistency card and stay one step ahead. But if McLaren and Ferrari got it right, they could take a considerable advantage over the rest of the field in 2026. And McLaren doesn’t intend to limit itself to just one opponent. Andrea Stella reminds us: « We have all our opponents in our sights. It doesn’t matter if it’s Red Bull, Mercedes, or Ferrari. It’s the same for us. »
So, is McLaren making the right choice? We’ll find out on track during the first winter tests!
