McLaren has been one of the standout teams of the 2025 Formula 1 season so far, achieving its best start in 27 years. With four wins from the first five races, the MCL39 has been a significant improvement over its predecessor, putting McLaren in the fight for podiums regularly. However, despite this impressive form, there is still debate within the team over whether the MCL39 is the fastest car on the grid. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the team’s two drivers, have very different opinions on the matter, which has led to some interesting discussions.
McLaren’s Strong Start to the Season
There is no denying that McLaren has had a sensational start to the 2025 season. The team has been on fire, with Norris and Piastri showing their skill and pushing the car to its limits. The MCL39 has been incredibly quick, especially when compared to last year’s car. With four wins out of five races, McLaren is clearly in a much better position than in previous seasons, and the team has been consistently competitive. This surge in performance has made McLaren a real contender in the fight for both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships.
However, despite the MCL39’s success, the question remains: is it truly the fastest car on the grid? This is where the team’s two drivers, Norris and Piastri, appear to be at odds. Their differing views on the car’s performance have sparked some debate, both within the team and among the wider Formula 1 community.
Lando Norris’ View: McLaren Still Not the Fastest
After the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Lando Norris spoke out about the team’s performance, and while he praised the consistency of McLaren as a whole, he was hesitant to declare the MCL39 as the fastest car on the grid. Norris highlighted the car’s weaknesses, particularly in terms of DRS (Drag Reduction System) and straight-line speed, where he feels McLaren still lags behind some of the other top teams.
Norris believes that McLaren is not yet in a position to claim the title of the fastest car, especially when comparing the team’s performance to that of Ferrari and Red Bull. According to Norris, both Ferrari and Red Bull have shown similar pace in qualifying and during the races, and although McLaren has looked quicker in practice sessions, the team struggles to maintain that advantage when it matters most.
The British driver emphasized that Ferrari and Red Bull are still able to match McLaren’s pace over a full race distance, and while McLaren has had moments of brilliance, Norris doesn’t think the team can consistently challenge for the fastest car title just yet. It’s clear that for Norris, the MCL39 has come a long way, but it still has some areas to improve before it can be considered the outright fastest.
Oscar Piastri’s Take: McLaren is the Fastest
In contrast to Norris, Oscar Piastri, who claimed victory in Saudi Arabia, has a different perspective. The young Australian driver firmly believes that McLaren is currently the fastest car on the grid. Piastri’s view is that McLaren’s performance, especially in clean air, shows that the MCL39 has the pace to challenge any team on the grid.
After his victory in Jeddah, Piastri was quick to assert that McLaren was indeed the fastest, noting that the car’s strong pace in clear air allowed him to build an advantage during the race. He felt that the team’s performance was not just a result of good strategy but also because of the car’s inherent speed, which allowed McLaren to dominate certain sections of the race. Piastri’s victory was a testament to McLaren’s performance, and he was confident that the MCL39 had the pace to keep competing at the front of the grid.
While Norris may be more cautious, Piastri’s optimism is based on the fact that McLaren has consistently outpaced its competitors during the races. For Piastri, the MCL39 is not just a fast car in practice sessions—it’s also a competitive machine on race day, capable of battling with the best teams in Formula 1.
Zak Brown’s Thoughts: McLaren Could Do Even More
McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, also weighed in on the team’s performance, supporting Piastri’s assertion that the MCL39 is a car with more potential to offer. Brown, while praising the team’s efforts, pointed out that even though McLaren had a great result in Saudi Arabia, there was still room for improvement. Brown emphasized that Piastri’s victory was impressive, but he also believed that the Australian had more to give. He suggested that Piastri had some performance left in the tank during the latter stages of the race, and that McLaren could have achieved an even greater result had they pushed harder.
Brown’s comments reflect the mindset of a team that is focused on continuous improvement. While McLaren has been performing well, Brown is confident that the team can continue to develop the MCL39 and push for even better results in the coming races. The CEO’s belief in the car’s potential is a clear indication that McLaren isn’t resting on its laurels—there’s still plenty of room for the team to grow.
Andrea Stella’s Perspective: Perfection is Key
McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, also weighed in on the team’s current performance. Stella acknowledged that the MCL39 had shown great potential, but he also stressed that the team needed to be perfect in every area to maintain its position at the top. Reflecting on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Stella pointed out that the team was caught off guard by unexpected tire wear during the first stint of the race. This unexpected issue, while not disastrous, highlighted the razor-thin margins that McLaren is operating within.
Stella’s comments underline the fact that McLaren, while competitive, is not yet in a position where they can afford mistakes. The difference between the top teams is incredibly small, and every fraction of a second counts. Stella emphasized that, moving forward, McLaren could not afford any errors if they were to continue their progress and stay competitive at the front of the grid.
The Bigger Picture: McLaren’s Ambitions for the Future
The debate over whether the MCL39 is the fastest car on the grid may be a matter of opinion, but it highlights McLaren’s continued rise in Formula 1. The team has already shown that it can compete with the best, and while there may be differences of opinion within the team, there’s no denying that McLaren is on the right track.
With a strong foundation, an improving car, and a team full of talented drivers, McLaren is setting itself up for continued success in the 2025 season. Whether or not the MCL39 is the fastest car on the grid, it is clear that McLaren is back in the hunt for victories and podiums, and the competition will have to keep an eye on them as the season progresses.
