According to McLaren CEO Zak Brown, they are wondering the same thing as every other team. When should you start dedicating your resources to 2026? However, for McLaren, the question means more, as they might actually have a chance at the 2025 championship.

McLaren's underdog status is firmly a thing of the past. It must now build on an encouraging start when the lights go out in Melbourne.

After three days of testing in Bahrain, McLaren have started as they finished last season, while Lewis Hamilton is positive about the beginning of his Ferrari career.

That is because a race run from former F1 title rival Max Verstappen also made him sit up and take notice, Hamilton expecting McLaren and Red Bull to pose a serious threat in F1 2