How McLaren's 'extreme' MCL39 could fall into a Red Bull trap

Rival engineers observing in Bahrain expressed on the one hand admiration at the work McLaren had done with its MCL39 machine, but at the same time expressed doubts about its critical issues.

Red Bull's Pierre Waché, who was the father of last season's extreme RB20, spied an intrinsic risk in the extreme McLaren concept.

The RB20 suffered from poor vehicle dynamics, while the McLaren is a car designed for high-end peak performance, which will be difficult to achieve week in and week out across a variety of circuits and set-up options.

Part of this comes from the very strong and stiff front end of the MCL39, which has the resultant effect of lightening the rear, thus creating a car that is less predictable on corner exit, especially when it comes to specific ride-heights and other set-up tools, as Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris declared over the first two days of testing.

Waché's doubts about the McLaren concept are not accidental and instead are born from his direct experience with the troublesome RB20.

The front suspension of that car was developed from the uber-successful RB19 of 2023, with a strong inclination of the upper wishbone creating an anti-dive effect under braking.

In practice, it would stop the car from submarining forwards under braking, giving Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez a more constant aerodynamic platform through the corner. This worked in tandem with the aerodynamic loads created by the floor.

In 2024, though, the aerodynamic performance and the extreme low ride height modified the performance envelope for this type of front-suspension design. 

As ride heights get progressively lower to maximise the ground-effect regulations, an ever-increasing importance has been placed on the front suspension to ensure a correct balance of the car and stability through slow corners, especially in kerb riding. 

Waché's doubts stem from the knowledge Red Bull gained last season with the difficult RB20. The French engineer perceives that the same phenomenon of poor balance that deeply affected last season's RB20 and which the team has still not fully rectified could strike McLaren.