Arrow McLaren’s Ascendance: A 2025 Retrospective
The 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season marked a significant shift for Arrow McLaren, with drivers Pato O’Ward and Christian Lundgaard elevating their competitive profile. O’Ward and Lundgaard achieved second and fifth place finishes in the championship, respectively, with O’Ward securing victories at Iowa and Toronto, and both drivers accumulating six podiums each. McLaren’s remarkable performance resulted in the team finishing as the top Chevrolet outfit, surpassing Penske and solidifying its position behind Ganassi and Palou.
From the onset of the season, McLaren showcased notable improvements, particularly in consistency across traditionally challenging tracks. Race engineer Will Anderson noted the organization’s commitment to rectifying previous reliability issues, stating, “We always want more… but yes, we made progress.” He emphasized the importance of maximizing points finishes, echoing a mindset prevalent among contending teams.
A particularly telling event occurred at Portland International Raceway. In 2024, McLaren struggled significantly, but by 2025 they managed to lock out the front row in qualifying. A similar narrative unfolded at Toronto, illustrating the team’s newfound ability to optimize setups across both driver profiles, allowing for better collaboration and data analysis. “We can split test plans across the two cars… therefore maximize development,” Anderson remarked.
Lundgaard’s ascendance has been particularly notable. In addition to gaining his first pole position and securing a win at Toronto, he demonstrated considerable growth in oval races—historically a weak point. Lawrence, Lundgaard’s race engineer, credited this improvement to enhanced teamwork and strategic mindset adjustments. “We had to look inward… discussing race footage with him,” Lawrence reflected, identifying a breakthrough in Lundgaard’s approach to oval racing.
Despite failing to secure a win in 2025, Lundgaard’s consistent performance across various tracks indicates a maturing driver ready to contend for victories. As Lawrence expressed, “Although it’s great to win, I’m much more into processes… knowing I have a shot at every race.”
The prestigious Indianapolis 500 remains a focal point for McLaren, with O’Ward finishing as a runner-up multiple times. “It’s the race where anything but a win leaves you disappointed,” said Anderson, stressing the team’s relentless pursuit of victory at IMS.
As the season progressed, both Anderson and Lawrence recognized the importance of their drivers’ contrasting yet complementary styles. “Lundgaard and Pato… push each other to get better,” noted Anderson, highlighting how the team navigated different setup preferences to elevate overall performance.
In summary, the 2025 season illustrated Arrow McLaren’s significant evolution, characterized by strategic resilience, driver development, and a collaborative team ethos, setting the stage for a more formidable challenge to established competitors in the coming years.
