McLaren stands out as one of the teams that has shown significant progress since the outset of last year’s racing season. Much of this advancement can be attributed to the mid-2023 upgrade packages, propelling the team to secure a commendable fourth-place finish by the season’s end.
As the 2024 season commenced, McLaren found itself in a familiar position, locked in a fierce battle with Mercedes for third place. However, the remarkable surge in race pace by Ferrari has made catching up with the Scuderia a challenging endeavor.
The unexpected retirement of Max Verstappen during the Australian Grand Prix presented a golden opportunity for Lando Norris to clinch McLaren’s inaugural podium of the campaign. Norris was closely followed by his teammate Oscar Piastri, securing a strong fourth-place finish for the team.
Despite the promising start, McLaren’s latest contender, the MCL38, inherits some of the primary weaknesses of its predecessor. The team aims to address these shortcomings by rolling out its first upgrade package around the Miami or Imola rounds scheduled for May.
However, Team Principal Stella offered a cautious outlook, indicating that rectifying the deficiencies, particularly in long-corner performance and DRS efficiency impacting top speeds, will likely necessitate an additional 12 months of intensive development.
“We are pleased with the progress we’ve made over the past year, but it’s evident that further development is required to address the weaknesses we’ve identified,” Stella elaborated. “Achieving significant improvements in DRS efficiency and long-corner performance will be an ongoing process.”
Stella emphasized that the persistence of these weaknesses doesn’t signify any shortcomings or setbacks at the factory. Rather, it reflects the intricate nature of car development and the time required to enhance performance across all areas, especially under the constraints imposed by the budget cap.
“Addressing these weaknesses is an integral part of our development strategy,” Stella affirmed. “It’s not indicative of any failures; rather, it underscores the complexity of refining a competitive racing car within the confines of our resources.”
He further explained, “Our car behaves as anticipated, performing in line with our simulations and expectations. However, the journey to eradicate these weaknesses demands meticulous planning and execution over the course of the season.”
In essence, McLaren remains steadfast in its commitment to continuous improvement, recognizing that the path to excellence in Formula 1 is paved with persistence, strategic planning, and relentless pursuit of perfection.