Porsche's Taycan Turbo GT Beats the 911 Turbo S Around This Grand Prix Track
Felipe Nasr, a Brazilian former F1 driver and a factory driver with Porsche Penske Motorsport's 963 prototype program, lapped the grand prix circuit in 1:42.1. Not only is that nearly eight seconds quicker than the previous EV record set by a Taycan Turbo S at 1:49.8, the lap is quicker than the time of 1:43.1 set by a 911 Turbo S. The GT-branded Taycan is also faster than official Porsche laps in a last-generation Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid (1:48.3) and a Cayenne Turbo GT (1:48.5) but still more than five seconds behind the ridiculously quick 991-generation 911 GT2 RS equipped with a Manthey kit (1:37)
Just as with Porsche's previously-announced EV lap records at Laguna Seca and the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the Taycan Turbo GT's lap at Interlagos puts it in the realm of GT4 race cars. Not only is that impressive for an EV, it's particularly eye-opening for a four-door sedan of any power source.
Still, a similarly powerful electric Porsche not carrying around the extra weight of a sedan could theoretically run laps even faster, and the quickest versions of Porsche's upcoming electric 718 may well be able to one-up all of the records currently being set by the Taycan Turbo GT. If the GT4 E-Performance concept that Porsche showed off in 2022 is any indication, the quickest variants of that car could be the fastest road-going EVs to ever lap a race track. At least, until Porsche's subsequent generation comes along.
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Porsche 911 GT3
Introduction There might not be a more sought-after performance derivative anywhere else in motordom than the Porsche 911 GT3. The model was almost an afterthought when it made its debut on the 996-generation Porsche 911 in 1999. But on every update of 911 since then it has been a penned-in performance model, intended to be at home on a race circuit as it is on the road, and able to go from one to the other with nothing more than a cursory check of the fuel level. Porsches are kind on consumables even when driven really hard. Here comes the latest version, the mid life revision or in Porsche geek-speak the '.2' update of the 992 generation 911, which arrived in January 2025. If you can't spot much difference from the model that arrived in 2021, don't be alarmed, there are vast numbers of small details that have been changed under the skin, and as we'll see, they keep the GT3 in a unique position in the automotive sphere. 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In all these instances, the delay in racing the new parts wasn't due to underperformance, but rather to a carefully thought-out plan. By collecting on-track data, McLaren was able to verify the correlation, checking whether the upgrades delivered what was expected based on wind tunnel and CFD simulations. This cautious rollout has helped McLaren avoid problems that have plagued other teams in recent years, such as correlation issues or unexpected side effects - issues Ferrari encountered after introducing a new floor in Barcelona last year, whereas Christian Horner has spoken many times about the handicap of Red Bull's outdated windtunnel. While McLaren's approach to upgrades is wise, it also highlights the luxury it currently enjoys. If new parts offer a time gain and every tenth matters, why wouldn't a team use it immediately? The fact that McLaren can afford to take a measured approach shows just how comfortable its lead is, both on track and in the championship standings. That margin allows it to avoid unnecessary risks, while Red Bull was forced to roll out upgrades rapidly in hopes of salvaging its season. McLaren MCL39, technical detail In contrast, Red Bull debuted part of its new floor package for Silverstone (the floor edges) a race early in Austria - at least for Max Verstappen's car. The midfield battle is even closer, meaning teams involved in that have no time to lose when it comes to bringing new parts to the car. But with McLaren's strong baseline, preserving that foundation matters more than squeezing out an extra millisecond a weekend early. McLaren has also been clever in adapting to the FIA's technical directives. It let Norris test the new front wing early to confirm that the FIA's clampdown on flexi-wings wouldn't hurt their performance from Barcelona onwards. These are the types of moves that are only possible when a team has a significant buffer - though, it still reflects smart planning from McLaren's technical team, including Rob Marshall. New floor set to return for F1 Belgian GP, rivals bringing upgrading as well The Silverstone floor test fits neatly into this approach, with the full rollout planned for Spa. 'The floor worked well, so we'll be unwrapping that and throwing it on both cars,' said CEO Zak Brown. 'It was always intended to just be a test part this first weekend, but we were happy with what we saw, so there is more to come.' This naturally raises the question – and maybe even concerns among rivals: could the grid's strongest car become even stronger? 'I think it's more of the same,' Brown responded when asked about the Belgian Grand Prix. 'Maybe not a 30-second win this time, but more of the same as far as how close it is. Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren "I think all these races so far have been epic. Even though the numbers are 9 out of 12, every race is pretty stressful. So as long as they're great to watch on TV… I hope we can do another 9 out of 12, but it's an exciting season.' While McLaren's new floor could give it another edge, it's worth noting that rival teams are also planning upgrades for Spa. Ferrari is bringing a new rear suspension following a filming day in Mugello, while Helmut Marko told Autosport that Red Bull will introduce some further upgrades as well. These have been in the pipeline for a while and represent some of the final big pushes of the season, as teams have already shifted focus to the 2026 regulations. All of this makes the Belgian Grand Prix an interesting one, despite the constraints of a sprint weekend. One aspect remains: McLaren's meticulous update strategy drastically reduces the likelihood of upgrades misfiring when they finally hit the track. That's a luxury most other teams simply don't have - and one of the clear advantages of McLaren's current position. Read Also: Why Verstappen is still problematic for McLaren in F1 2025 title fight To read more articles visit our website.
