For the first time in 2025, McLaren finished a race with both cars off the podium in Canada.
Although Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris showed flashes of speed, they undeniably struggled more than in previous weekends to extract performance from the MCL39.
Could we see this scenario repeated in upcoming races, potentially opening the door to a reshaped championship? Let’s try to understand it.
A “Human” McLaren in Montreal: Possible Explanations
Realistically, there are three possible reasons behind McLaren’s difficulties in Montreal, and not all of them suggest the championship narrative is about to change.
The first reason relates to the circuit layout. Even though the Woking-based team’s car has been extremely competitive across a variety of tracks since the start of the season, the occasional off-weekend is understandable. After all, even the exceptional 2023 Red Bull didn’t win every race—it faltered in Singapore.
The second hypothesis, which is slightly more concerning for the team, involves the update package introduced in Quebec. It was a fairly significant set of upgrades, including a revised front suspension. Perhaps McLaren hasn’t yet figured out how to maximize it. This would be their first real difficulty with development since summer 2023. It’s certainly a possibility, although one that could soon be resolved.
The third and final explanation is the one that gives the most hope to rivals: that the MCL39 was affected by the new Technical Directive TD015. This regulation, which came into force precisely in Canada, deals with the use of skid blocks (the metal plates under the floor of the cars—arguably the most sensitive component in this generation of F1 machinery).
Essentially, the directive mandates that teams must now have both stainless steel and titanium skid blocks available. The aim is to reduce fire risks and increase on-track safety, but also to clarify the rules and make them less open to interpretation, ensuring more equitable enforcement. Put simply: if McLaren had found a grey area in the regulations, they may now have to invent something new to avoid losing performance.
Now all eyes turn to the next round of the Formula 1 World Championship—the Austrian Grand Prix—where we’ll get further answers. One thing is certain: at the Red Bull Ring, at least one of these theories will be put to the test. And perhaps we’ll find out what kind of championship lies ahead.
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