Car of the Year was unanimously agreed by Paul Velasco, Editor-in-Chief, and Jad Mallak, Editor. From the opening races to the final chequered flag, one machine stood clearly above the rest.
The McLaren MCL39. This was not simply a fast car, but the most complete technical package of the ground-effect era. Its consistency across circuits, conditions, and race formats set it apart, as did its exceptional tyre management and resistance to degradation.
Even during Red Bull’s late-season resurgence, rivals struggled with balance and form, while the McLaren MCL39 remained relentlessly reliable.
Central to its success was the influence of Rob Marshall, whose understanding of regulatory grey areas and race-critical details translated into a car that worked almost everywhere. On the rare weekends it did not, responsibility lay with setup or execution rather than design. In a season defined by fine margins, the MCL39 was the benchmark.
Jad Mallak: "There’s no contest. Car of the Year is the McLaren MCL39. Credit to Rob Marshall. His influence was clear. That car managed tyres brilliantly, avoided degradation, and was consistent across the season.
"Even during Red Bull’s comeback, the RB21 was inconsistent. The MCL39 worked almost everywhere. When it didn’t, I’d blame setup or drivers rather than the car. It was the best product of the ground-effect era and easily won Car of the Year."
Paul Velasco: "No doubt. Absolute no-brainer. Beautiful car. Shout out to Andrea Stella and his technical gurus, including Rob Marshall, Neil Houldey and Peter Prodromou and their team of smart people at Woking. To close this one with a dollop of controversy, I reckon if Max had been in the MCL39, he might've won every Grand Prix this year."
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