McLaren MCL39

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McLaren MCL39
Category Formula One
Constructor McLaren
Designer(s) Rob Marshall
Predecessor McLaren MCL38
Technical specifications [1]
Chassis Carbon fibre composite
Suspension (front)Carbon fibre and titanium pullrod suspension legs operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
Suspension (rear)Carbon fibre and titanium pushrod suspension legs operating inboard torsion bar and damper system
Engine Mercedes-AMG M16 E Performance
1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine limited to 15,000 RPM in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
Electric motor Mercedes-AMG
Kinetic and thermal energy recovery systems
Transmission McLaren 8-speed + 1 reverse sequential seamless semi-automatic transmission operated via paddle shifters
BatteryLithium-ion battery
Weight800 kg (including driver, excluding fuel)
Brakes 6 piston calipers, carbon ventilated discs/pads
Tyres Pirelli P Zero (dry)
Pirelli Cinturato (wet)
Clutch Electro-hydraulically operated, carbon multi-plate
Competition history
Notable entrants McLaren F1 Team
Notable drivers

The McLaren MCL39 is a Formula One car constructed by McLaren and designed under the direction of Rob Marshall to compete in the 2025 Formula One World Championship. It will be driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, in their seventh and third seasons with the team respectively.

Contents

Background

Development context

The MCL39 follows the MCL38, McLaren's first championship-winning Formula One car since 1998. [2] Having won the Constructors' Championship in 2024, McLaren will be allowed only 70% the allocation of wind tunnel testing time baseline. Team principal Andrea Stella said he believed McLaren could overcome this disadvantage by improving efficiency elsewhere in the aerodynamic design process. [3]

Initial design and development

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said the team would take a "brave risk" approach to designing the MCL39. [2] Engineering director Neil Houldey said would not compromise any of its 2025 development despite an entirely new set of technical regulations and engine formula being introduced in 2026. [4] Stella said the team believed it had "maintained the rate of development" it had shown in 2023 and 2024 and that the MCL39 followed the same "linear trend" as the MCL60 and MCL38. [5]

The MCL39 was the first McLaren car that lead designer Rob Marshall oversaw from its beginning. [6] The car was a significant technical development over the MCL38, exhibiting substantial layout changes. [6] [7] The MCL39 appeared to have shifted its radiators further up and backwards compared to the MCL38. [5] It retained the front pullrod and rear pushrod suspension layout, but with increased anti-dive measures to better control the car's ride height. [5] [8] Other visible changes included new sidepod inlet shapes, revised engine cover bodywork, and a new, wider airbox inlet shape. [6] [8]

Stella said the team would deliver several early-season updates, consistent with McLaren's development plan in recent seasons. [6] [9]

Livery

The MCL39 used a one-off papaya orange and black geometric dazzle camouflage pattern for its pre-season filming day, as all teams had committed to launching their season liveries at a dedicated event. [10] [11]

The car's season livery was substantially identical to that of the MCL38. [12] McLaren issued a statement explaining that the team had never changed its livery the season after a championship win and never substantially changed a livery during a period of sustained success. [12]

Competition and development history

Pre-season

McLaren were considered favourites to win a second consecutive World Constructors' Championship in 2025. [13] [14] [6] Norris was the favourite to win the World Drivers' Championship, [14] [6] although Piastri also said he was a serious contender for the title. [15] The MCL39 was first ran on track in a private filming day at Silverstone in February 2025, driven by both Norris and Piastri. [10] Stella stated that this version of the car was substantially the same as that which would be run in the official pre-season test. [7] [6]

References

  1. ↑ "What is the technical specification of our 2025 Formula 1 car?". McLaren . 18 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  2. 1 2 Noble, Jonathan (10 December 2024). "McLaren reveals "brave risk" approach to 2025 F1 car design". Motorsport.com . Motorsport Network . Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  3. ↑ Noble, Jonathan (13 December 2024). "Why McLaren thinks it can overcome its 2025 wind tunnel deficit". Motorsport.com Australia . Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  4. ↑ Cleeren, Filip (7 June 2025). "McLaren thinks it can grab 2025 F1 chance without sacrificing 2026". Motorsport.com . Motorsport Network . Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Hughes, Mark (13 February 2025). "How McLaren's MCL39 has benefitted from an 'aggressive' evolution approach". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration . Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mitchell-Malm, Scott; Noble, John; Straw, Edd; Hughes, Mark (13 February 2025). "What we learned from F1 2025's first car launch". The Race. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  7. 1 2 Cleeren, Filip (13 February 2025). "McLaren made 'aggressive and fundamental' changes to its title-winning F1 car". Motorsport.com . Motorsport Network . Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  8. 1 2 Anderson, Gary (13 February 2025). "The boldest part of McLaren's 2025 F1 car". The Race. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  9. ↑ Noble, Jon (13 February 2025). "Why McLaren has gone 'aggressive' with 2025 F1 car". The Race. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  10. 1 2 Kalinauckas, Alex (13 February 2025). "McLaren becomes first F1 team to reveal 2025 car design". Motorsport.com Australia . Motorsport Network . Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  11. ↑ Barretto, Lawrence (13 February 2025). "McLaren's new MCL39 car hits the track for the first time ahead of 2025 season". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration . Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  12. 1 2 "The story behind McLaren's 2025 livery design". McLaren . 19 February 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  13. ↑ "2025 McLaren F1 car launch: title favourites first to reveal new car — in camouflage livery" . Motor Sport . London. 13 February 2025. ISSN   0027-2019 . Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  14. 1 2 Saunders, Nate (14 February 2025). Written at Silverstone. "Lando Norris ready for 'elbows out' vs. Max Verstappen in title fight". ESPN.com.au . Bristol, Connecticut: ESPN . Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  15. ↑ Chadband, Ian (15 February 2025) [13 February 2025]. "I can win F1 title: Oscar". Sport. The West Australian . Perth: Seven West Media. Australian Associated Press. p. 163. ISSN   0312-6323 . Retrieved 15 February 2025.
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