McLaren Threatens a Martial Stroll in China

Breathless after the thrilling start to the 2025 Formula 1 season, the second Grand Prix of the year is already here. The Shanghai International Circuit will also host the first of six under the sprint format, adding an extra layer of difficulty at this stage of the championship.

In these circumstances, there is a serious fear in the paddock that McLaren might be too far ahead. Although there was no double victory due to Oscar Piastri's final issue, the feeling that this year they have a far superior machine is very present in the paddock. Lando Norris's victory was not more decisive due to the rain and because his pursuer was none other than Max Verstappen, as in pure performance and pace, the MCL39 was several seconds ahead of the rest. This is a problem not only for McLaren's rivals but also for Formula 1.

With a year to go before the regulations change again, having a team that dominates is something they don't want to see at all. In a 2025 with no changes from the previous season, few can be surprised that McLaren is ahead. The doubts surrounding Lando Norris, earned after losing all head-to-head duels against Max Verstappen last year, are resolved with a much superior car. Norris is considered one of those drivers who needs a car several seconds better than his rivals to rely on less spurious and more tangible arguments rather than talent.

The suspicions that McLaren has something more than the rest are linked to an element that was closely watched last year. The flexing of the front wing was banned by the FIA, but now it seems McLaren has found a way to exceed the regulatory limits in this regard on the rear wing. By achieving more flex in the wing, they avoid aerodynamic drag reducing acceleration on straights and gain it in corners. The FIA's method of measuring the legality of wings is ineffective, as they test by placing a weight and checking that the wing doesn't move, but they do it with the car stationary: it's in motion that this visible flex is achieved.

The FIA, which often lags behind engineers, was already aware of this 'trick' in McLaren —among other teams— but theoretically wasn't going to review it until May. Given what happened in Australia and the forecast that McLaren might gain an unmanageable lead for the rest —as happened with Red Bull and the asymmetric braking, which wasn't addressed until June—, they have decided that in China, the flexing limits of the wings will be further restricted.

Pending the data from the practice sessions and Saturday's sprint (which in Spain will be at 4 am), several teams are eagerly anticipating this potential handicap for McLaren. The most obvious is Red Bull, with Max Verstappen eager to reclaim the lead that Norris took from him 1029 days later, but also his teammate Liam Lawson, who embarrassed himself in his first race with the big teams. Or Lewis Hamilton, who is under even more scrutiny after his tumultuous debut with Ferrari, and Charles Leclerc, aware that the Ferrari isn't performing badly. Not to mention Mercedes, which undeservedly and quietly secured a more than decent result in Australia.

What happens at the top will largely determine the goals of Williams, with whom Carlos Sainz wants to shake off the bitter taste of his crash at the start of the Australian GP, and Aston Martin, which after scoring with Stroll knows it has Alonso, also crashed in Melbourne, as its best man.

Additionally, this weekend will pay tribute to Eddie Jordan, who passed away before the Shanghai event. The eccentric former team boss with whom Michael Schumacher debuted died at 76 after a year battling aggressive prostate and bladder cancer. Remembered not only for Jordan Grand Prix but also for his work as a commentator, analyst, and even representative —he was Adrian Newey's—, paddock members have bid him farewell with affection and honors as one of the most iconic personalities of the last 40 years in the big circus.