McLaren Drop Subtle Warning to F1 Rivals With New Floor Test at Silverstone

McLaren has been the fastest team on the grid ever since the 2025 season kicked off in Australia. Other teams have brought upgrades, and the FIA even cracked down on the flexi wings to try and slow them down, but they’ve only gotten faster as the season has progressed.

Now, McLaren is set to introduce a new floor design, which they believe will make them even quicker.

McLaren tests new floor at British Grand Prix

During free practice 1 at the British Grand Prix, the Papaya team broke out their new floor concept for testing. During the session, one driver tested the new floor while the other went out with the old one so the team could compare the data between the two specs.

First laps banked at Silverstone 🇬🇧✔️#McLaren | #BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/keEIF3OZwP

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) July 4, 2025

McLaren opted to test the new floor at Silverstone instead of Spa. With Belgium being a sprint weekend, it would not have given them optimum time to test out the new floor and still get their regular practice in for the weekend.

“With the new floor in free practice 1, the plan was always going to be that the floor was a test floor. [It’s so we could get an] early read of this new specification, because the next race is a sprint event where it is more difficult to introduce a new specification, and make proper comparisons.” Stella told the media.

Stella also told the media that they were pretty pleased with the results of FP1, and they expect the new floor to be introduced in upcoming events, but he failed to give a specific date.

How the new floor effects the rest of the season

Ever since the new technical directive was put into effect in Spain, which was supposed to bring the rest of the pack closer to McLaren, the Papaya team have finished 1-2 in three of the last four races. Nobody has been able to catch up – in fact, they’re seemingly getting further away – and now McLaren believe they’re getting even faster.

If what Stella is saying is true and the MCL39 gets even quicker, McLaren’s gap to the rest of the field should only continue to grow. While teams like Ferrari, who just tested a new suspension this week, are still making upgrades, there’s no indication that anyone will be able to catch McLaren by the end of the year.

Toto Wolff Questions His McLaren Engine Decision as Rivals Surge With Mercedes Power

It appears McLaren will run away with the constructors’ championship this season. However, if both drivers stay in form, there’s a good chance we see the closest driver’s championship battle since 2021 between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.