The first 2025-spec single-seater to be unveiled to the world comes from the team that won the Constructors’ title last season: we are, of course, talking about McLaren, which surprisingly hit the track at Silverstone for the shakedown of the new MCL39. This car aims not only to defend the team title but also to bring the Drivers’ Championship back to Woking for the first time in 27 years (Mika Hakkinen in 1998).
The camouflage livery (necessary as the official color scheme will only be revealed on Tuesday, February 18, in London) and the British weather certainly do not help, but some details can still be spotted. To start with, the model fresh out of Woking’s factory does not represent a revolution but rather a continuation of the already excellent previous version.
However, there are some innovations, with extreme concepts and developments inspired by last season’s rival cars. Let’s take a detailed look at what lies behind the photos released by McLaren…
Front and rear wings: specifications and innovations
As for the front wing, the specification is the same medium/high downforce version introduced in Austin last October, necessary to handle the challenging conditions in which the car made its debut. The difference lies in the nose, now more tapered than before to minimize drag as much as possible.
On the other hand, the rear wing remains unchanged, as it is exactly the same component used during the final weekend in Abu Dhabi, featuring the distinctive, highly pronounced “spoon-shaped” main plane profile.
Suspension section
The front suspension layout remains pull rod this year, with the only exception being the rear arm of the upper triangle, which appears more inclined, further exaggerating the anti-dive effect. This effect helps the car maintain as level a stance as possible under braking. Such a modification aims not only to improve adjustability but also to optimize airflow cleanliness toward the floor.
As for the rear, it is difficult to conduct an accurate analysis since none of the images released by the team clearly show this specific area of the car. However, at first glance, it appears unchanged, with the MCL39 retaining a push rod setup similar to its predecessor. Notably, the upper arm is now slightly curved downward near the wheel hub.
Ferrari and Mercedes “present” on the McLaren
Alongside extreme concepts, the new McLaren also features some elements seen last season on rival cars. A prominent feature on Andrea Stella’s team’s car is the so-called “Cobra flap” near the two halo mounts, which acts as a flow diverter—an idea taken from the SF-24.
Despite Mercedes being significantly weaker than the papaya-colored team, one aspect of the W15 caught Woking’s engineers’ attention enough to be implemented on the MCL39: the airbox, which now has a distinctly ogival shape with enlarged sections on either side of the roll bar compared to the 2024 version.
Other details
The engine cover has been completely redesigned, with the rear section now significantly more tapered. At Silverstone, the low temperatures meant that no cooling “gills” were present on the bodywork, but they will appear during the season, especially at circuits where heat dissipation is crucial for overall performance.
Lastly, let’s focus on the sidepod inlets, where the upper section is now noticeably narrower. The engineers’ goal is to create a deep undercut in the lower area, allowing airflow around the car to function more efficiently near the floor edges.
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