Journalists observe the altered McLaren for the 2025 season.

      McLaren has unveiled major updates to its championship-winning Formula 1 car for the upcoming season. As we enter the final year of the existing regulations, all teams will certainly base their 2025 cars on their previous versions, with McLaren’s past model having led them to the 2024 constructors' championship. However, McLaren is not resting on its success.

      On Thursday, the Woking-based team released images of its heavily camouflaged orange and black 2025 car being tested at Silverstone during a ‘filming day’ shakedown. Auto Motor und Sport journalist Tobias Gruner noted, "The orange and black pattern made it challenging to identify new aerodynamic features." He added that a closer inspection revealed that the airbox is now flatter and more oval-shaped. Gruner also mentioned that the nose has become "a bit slimmer," and the mounts for the side mirrors have been modified.

      McLaren CEO Zak Brown stated, "We need to stay realistic. Every team will emerge from the winter break with improvements." Paolo Filisetti, a technical correspondent for Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, observed that while the 2025 McLaren resembles its predecessor, there has been a "significant refinement of the project in both dynamic and aerodynamic aspects." He pointed out alterations to the front and rear suspension, which now feature lower attachment points, noting "striking" differences with a less rounded bodywork profile.

      Additionally, an analysis highlighted "more imposing" sidepods with redesigned intake shapes. While McLaren secured the constructors' title in 2024, Lando Norris is now eager to challenge four-time consecutive world champion Max Verstappen for the drivers' title. "I need to be assertive and demonstrate that I'm not going to easily concede any positions to him," the British driver told reporters. "But I also have to be a strategic driver. Competing against Max requires intelligence."