F1, GP Imola 2025: McLaren isn’t standing still in F1. The upgrade package to enhance the two MCL39s is ready. Hoping they make mistakes that create a technical bottleneck where others can slip seems almost impossible. However, the highest category of motorsport has taught us that nothing should be taken for granted. Never. But the Woking team isn’t taking anything for granted and aims to continue winning.
The Importance of Not Making Mistakes
McLaren arrives at the Imola Grand Prix as the car to beat. It’s a huge cliché but still true. The current period of Formula 1 is about to enter a tradition, where various teams will try to make a leap forward with updates. Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes will obviously be part of it, trying to close a rather large gap.
For this reason, McLaren must be careful not to lose the necessary focus to continue leading the pack. This is especially true since the entire group of teams will evolve at a fast pace. Maintaining the status of being the car that sets the technical pace of F1 is still a complex situation. This makes every strategic decision even more important.
We need to fine-tune everything, as any detail, no matter how small, could make the difference in a competitive context that doesn’t forgive. Zero mistakes, in short. On this front, the British team feels quite confident, supported by the great work done during the last season. In fact, we remember that, in 2024, McLaren was the only top team that didn’t make a mistake with an upgrade.
McLaren Can Do Even Better
In the last World Championship, the Woking team focused decisively on the first sector to build the lap, concentrating on optimizing the first chicanes to fully exploit its strengths: the ability to generate downforce with the floor. Only in the following months did the team start making adjustments to the aerodynamics, starting with the front wing, to gain more benefits in the slower sections.
This year, the goal is to maximize the gain throughout the entire lap, benefiting from a wide operating window that allows for the ideal balance between vertical load and mechanical grip. This carefully studied setup aims to ensure a balanced configuration that doesn’t penalize any part of the track and highlights the car’s full potential. This is what Ferrari lacks.
Imola, “Bumpy” Circuit: A Double-Edged Sword
Compared to Miami, the Italian circuit is much bumpier, with rough patches and discontinuities that require careful suspension setup to avoid excessive losses in mechanical grip. On paper, this might seem like a small disadvantage for the MCL39, but if used well, it can become a distinctive element, especially when considering cars like the SF-25.
The British team could also find a significant advantage over the Red Bull RB21 if they manage to lower the car further. Another key aspect is “curb riding”: McLaren drivers have shown good confidence in aggressively tackling the curbs, a skill that could translate into effective adaptation to the technical characteristics of the track.
Furthermore, tire management is expected to be crucial, as the track tends to overheat the rear tires toward the end of the lap. The weekend’s temperatures, expected to be around 20°C, will play a key role in determining the car’s stability and overall performance. The challenge will be maintaining supremacy and optimizing the setup to respond to the circuit’s peculiarities, a practice always full of risks.
It will be a race where managing vertical load and the correct balance between mechanical and aerodynamic grip will be exponentially important. The experience gained last season and the ability to quickly adapt to conditions, from the bumpy track to curb riding challenges and tire thermal management, could prove decisive for McLaren.
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