The 2023 season was a ‘comfort zone’ for Red Bull. The team won 21 races out of 22, while Max Verstappen alone won 19. Thus, the Milton Keynes-based outfit was beyond the reach of other teams. Every race saw nine F1 teams vying to witness Red Bull clinch the victory. Therefore, no team came close to challenging the Red Bull dominance, as they had nearly twice the team’s points in second place.
While everyone expected the RBR storm to continue in 2024, the rivals were able to reduce its intensity. As a result, the energy drink-based outfit is still on the top, but the gap is converging. One of the main protagonists in tackling the RBR challenge was McLaren. The team had been closer than others to defeating the reigning world champions. Thus, the Woking-based team elaborated on the modifications that enabled them to achieve this feat.
“Now It’s A Car That Works Well In High Speed,” McLaren Principal Explains The Transformed MCL38
Since the Miami Grand Prix triumph, McLaren’s squad has looked different. While the team finished fourth in 2023, it is third this season, just 33 points behind Ferrari. Further, the recent pole position in Barcelona, which transitioned to a second-place finish, also boosted its confidence. Moreover, the technical team has overcome its woes to deliver a high-speed, aero-packed MCL38. Therefore, after a string of stellar performances, team principal Andrea Stell has explained the ‘personality alteration’ that made MCL38 a powerhouse.
After the Spanish GP, Stella said the team is witnessing an improvement in medium and low speeds. He further admitted the team altered the car’s personality, turning its weaknesses into strengths. The McLaren F1 prospect was variable throughout the speed ranges, but now it has settled down. Moreover, the Woking-based team leader confirmed that the team still lacks high speed. However, he admitted that in this generation of cars, you can’t expect to have everything at once. Thus, you lose somewhere, gain somewhere, and the car development continues. Ultimately, he professed their high-speed performance isn’t worse, but it could have been better like other domains.
Zak Brown Excited For The Upcoming Showdowns As McLaren Focuses on ‘One Race At A Time’
McLaren’s CEO underlined his excitement for the upcoming races, noting that more races equal more opportunities. He also applauded Andrea Stella, the team principal, for providing exceptional leadership and keeping the team focused and dedicated to their present approach.
The CEO emphasized McLaren’s disciplined strategy of taking each race as it comes while also planning for future growth. He recognized the necessity of focusing on immediate tasks, such as preparing for the next race in Austria, rather than becoming sidetracked by future events like Silverstone. Instead, he stressed the continuous work at the factory to improve and evolve their vehicle. This strategy demonstrates McLaren’s disciplined and forward-thinking approach to navigating the rigorous Formula One season to maximize performance and capitalize on every racing chance.
