Ted Kravitz amazed by innovative McLaren feature on 2025 F1 car during testing – McLaren faced a crucial decision over the winter break as they completed development of their 2025 Formula One car, the last in the current rule cycle. The reigning Constructors’ Champions had to decide whether to refine the concept that brought them success last season or take a bold step forward in the hope of extending their lead over their rivals.
As testing got underway in Bahrain, early indicators suggested that McLaren had made tangible progress. Lando Norris set the fastest time on the opening day, although test lap times are often of little significance. Teams run different fuel loads and test programmes, as was the case with Haas, whose drivers looked well off the pace as they focused on long runs rather than qualifying simulations.
Ted Kravitz, reporting live from the pit lane, meticulously observed each car as it emerged from the garage. While scrutinising McLaren’s latest car, he noticed an unfamiliar component that amazed him – something he claimed to have never seen on an F1 car before.
Ted Kravitz discovers groundbreaking McLaren innovation during testing
While analysing McLaren’s updated package for the 2025 season, Kravitz was struck by the aggressive yet methodical evolution of last year’s title-winning car. He shared his insights with Ted’s Notebook, noting the team’s focus on improving key performance areas, including low-speed cornering, high-speed stability and optimising the Drag Reduction System (DRS).
“This McLaren looks like a very, very tidy package, I’ve got to say,” said Kravitz. “While we’re analysing all the teams, McLaren seem to have refined what was already a strong car last year and made it even better. It’s a sensible yet aggressive design and it looks like they’ve really pushed forward in terms of performance.
Kravitz pointed out that while there hadn’t been any drastic changes to the front of the car, the rear appeared to have been tightly packaged.
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As Oscar Piastri climbed out of the cockpit and prepared to hand the car over to Norris, something unexpected caught Kravitz’s attention.
“Oh, that’s an interesting heat shield! A golden heat shield on the front bulkhead – I’ve never seen that before!” he exclaimed. “Wow, they must be keeping something cool in there.”
While the exact function of the heat shield remains unclear, its presence suggests that McLaren has integrated a unique cooling solution, possibly linked to energy recovery systems or electrical components.
Kravitz concludes that McLaren appear to have taken an already competitive package and refined it. “They won the last race in Abu Dhabi and now they’ve gone one step further,” he observed.
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Stability a key advantage for McLaren as it looks to 2025
Beyond technical innovation, consistency in McLaren’s driver line-up could play a crucial role in their championship ambitions. Former Renault driver and F1 analyst Jolyon Palmer emphasised the benefits of retaining both Norris and Piastri for another season, citing their growing experience and cohesion as a formidable asset.
“I think McLaren having a stable driver line-up is very useful for them,” noted Palmer while commenting on the second day of testing. “They’re still young, but last year they were in contention for the title and although they won the Constructors’ Championship, it was a tough fight in the end. Given the pace of their car and the ability of their drivers, they might have expected to seal it earlier.
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Palmer: McLaren hitting the ground running
Palmer highlighted how McLaren’s ability to start 2025 from a strong position – rather than playing catch-up as they did last year – should give them a significant advantage.
“This year they’re not trying to make up lost ground. They have the experience of last season, and both the team and the drivers are starting from a much better position. That’s a big advantage. Stability in the race engineers, team structure and overall operations will allow them to get maximum performance from the start.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown are banking on that continuity to propel the team to an even greater achievement – a Drivers’ Championship, something they have not secured since Lewis Hamilton’s dramatic triumph in 2008.
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George Russell reveals Norris’ confidence in new car
As testing continues, speculation is mounting as to whether McLaren have found the magic formula to challenge for both titles in 2025. Mercedes driver George Russell provided an intriguing insight into Norris’ mindset after getting behind the wheel of the new car.
Speaking to the media, Russell revealed that Norris seemed particularly upbeat about the potential of the MCL38. While cautioning against drawing premature conclusions, Russell noted that McLaren’s pace and overall package looked promising.
As always in Formula One, the real test will come when competition begins. Early optimism in testing can be quickly dampened when teams realise their full potential in race conditions. However, with a refined car, stable driver line-up and new-found confidence, McLaren appears well positioned to be a major force in 2025.
With testing due to conclude in Bahrain before the first race of the season, all eyes will be on McLaren to see if their winter developments translate into race-winning performances. Whether the mysterious golden heat shield is a minor tweak or part of a wider performance upgrade remains to be seen, but one thing is clear – McLaren have left no stone unturned in their pursuit of glory.
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