McLaren Halts F1 Upgrades for 2025, Confident in Norris' Pace Against Verstappen

McLaren will not introduce any further upgrades for its 2025 car to aid Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the drivers' championship against Max Verstappen. Despite Verstappen's recent dominance, the team finds reassurance in Norris' strong race pace at the US Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

• McLaren's decision to halt development early signals a strategic shift, potentially focusing resources on the 2026 car.
• It places the onus on existing car performance and driver skill to challenge Red Bull, rather than relying on new hardware.
• The confidence in Norris' pace, despite a challenging weekend, suggests McLaren believes its current package is competitive enough for race wins, even if the championship fight is getting tougher.

The Details:

• Max Verstappen has reignited his championship charge, winning three of the last four Grands Prix and securing maximum points in the Austin sprint race.
• He now trails Piastri by 40 points, with Norris 14 points behind his teammate, setting up a tight battle with five race weekends remaining.
• No Further Upgrades: McLaren team boss Andrea Stella confirmed no new parts would be introduced for the remainder of the 2025 season.
• Red Bull's Dominance: Verstappen's performance at Circuit of the Americas clearly demonstrated the Red Bull RB21 is now the quickest car on the grid.
• Norris' Promising Pace: Despite Piastri's struggles with car confidence, Norris displayed impressive race pace, which Stella believes was sufficient to fight for victory.
• Sprint Race Impact: Norris and McLaren had no data from the Saturday sprint, as both drivers were eliminated early, hampering setup work for the main race and potentially preventing optimal car performance.

The Big Picture:

McLaren's early cessation of 2025 car development contrasts with rivals like Red Bull and Mercedes, who continue to bring upgrades. This could mean a more aggressive focus on the radical new regulations for 2026. While challenging for the championship without new parts will be difficult, the team's belief in its current car's potential, especially Norris' ability to match Verstappen's pace, offers a glimmer of hope.

What's next:

• The remaining five race weekends will test McLaren's current package and driver consistency against a resurgent Red Bull.
• The team will need to maximize performance from their existing car, leveraging data and strategic calls to close the gap.
• The decision to stop upgrades now indicates McLaren might be making a significant early commitment to its 2026 challenger, hoping to gain an advantage in the next regulatory cycle.