Reading early F1 tea leaves: McLaren power struggle, flexing wings, Max’s tomorrow.

Piastri vs. Norris

• Oscar Piastri leads the drivers’ standings by 10 points, despite McLaren’s best car.

• Piastri has won three out of five events, demonstrating improved single-lap pace.

• Norris’ poor start to the season raises questions about his mental toughness and his ability to compete.

• Piastri’s performance could impact McLaren’s operations, as the team may be more inclined to follow Piastri’s preferences.

Spanish Surprise

• McLaren’s flexing the wings, especially the front wing, enhances aerodynamic performance.

• The FIA has decided to decrease the amount of tolerance during load tests to curb flexing.

• The new technical directive from the Spanish GP could impact the pecking order and the title fight if it takes away some of the former’s advantage.

Verstappen, Red Bull and the Future

• The four-time champion has produced another masterclass in the second- or third-best machinery and is third in the standings, 12 points off the leader.

• Red Bull’s problem of being unpredictable in different ways through different corners has not abated, making it unsustainable over a season.

• The team’s management hopes the planned upgrade in Imola delivers enough improvement to keep its biggest asset happy.

Balancing the Development Race

• 2025 marks the last season under the current set of technical regulations, introduced in 2022.

• Teams have a challenging task bringing upgrades to this year’s package while also shifting their focus to 2026.

• Honda’s 2008 program shutdown in 2008 inspired Honda to adapt to the new regulations.

• Ferrari and Mercedes’ challenge for wins could make the next few months defining for this year’s championship and beyond.