McLaren Seeks More Speed with Upgrades at Austrian Grand Prix
Even with a solid lead in the Formula 1 Constructors Championship, McLaren is looking to tap into additional performance from the MCL39 by rolling out several upgrades at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The initial results are encouraging.
Both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris took to the track during the second practice hour at the Red Bull Ring on Friday. Piastri and development driver Alex Dunn had already clocked the third fastest time in the first practice session (FP1). Norris led with a lap time of 1:04.580 on soft tires, while Piastri wasn’t far behind, securing second place just 0.157 seconds slower than his teammate.
Max Verstappen secured third place, finishing 0.318 seconds behind Norris, followed by Lance Stroll and Charles Leclerc in fourth and fifth, respectively.
George Russell, who had the fastest time in FP1, settled for sixth in the second session.
Here’s how the FP2 results for the Austrian Grand Prix played out:
FP2 Results 2025 Austrian Grand Prix
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:04.580 | – |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:04.737 | +0.157 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:04.898 | +0.318 |
| 4 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:05.022 | +0.442 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:05.190 | +0.610 |
| 6 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:05.229 | +0.649 |
| 7 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | 1:05.292 | +0.712 |
| 8 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | 1:05.411 | +0.831 |
| 9 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:05.457 | +0.877 |
| 10 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:05.511 | +0.931 |
| 11 | Antonio Giovinazzi | Mercedes | 1:05.537 | +0.957 |
| 12 | Liam Lawson | Alpha Tauri | 1:05.543 | +0.963 |
| 13 | Isack Hadjar | Alpha Tauri | 1:05.547 | +0.967 |
| 14 | Pierre Gasly | Takuma | 1:05.613 | +1.033 |
| 15 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:05.698 | +1.118 |
| 16 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:05.765 | +1.185 |
| 17 | Carlos Sainz Jr. | Williams | 1:05.814 | +1.234 |
| 18 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:05.835 | +1.255 |
| 19 | Nico Hülkenberg | Sauber | 1:05.918 | +1.338 |
| 20 | Franco Colapinto | Takuma | 1:06.176 | +1.596 |
McLaren has introduced three key performance upgrades at the Austrian Grand Prix. Adjustments were made to both the front and rear suspension of the MCL39, aiming for overall enhancements in aerodynamics.
Reports suggest these upgrades should assist Norris in mastering the MCL39.
“We can definitely glean useful data from Lando’s feedback,” noted McLaren’s technical director Neil Houdet. “We have a clearer understanding of what he needs to improve his car, and some of the modifications we’re making are tailored to his insights.”
“It’s a bit of a balancing act between the driver’s needs and the upgrades we’re trying to implement, but we’re getting a clearer picture of what he requires. Small adjustments in several areas could support him in the upcoming races,” he added.
Details shared by McLaren engineers highlighted Norris’s crucial feedback on tire performance. “He wants a little more grip on the edge,” Houdet explained. “We’ve made slight kinematic tweaks that should yield better results.”
There were earlier concerns about some issues that arose early in the season, but understanding that they weren’t significant allowed the team to make these adjustments confidently.
The initial feedback has been largely positive, but real challenges loom as qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix approaches. Despite dominating certain segments earlier, Norris has struggled to complete the laps necessary for the final qualifying round.
It will be interesting to see how things unfold at the Red Bull Ring tomorrow.
