The Monza GP marked the end of the European leg of the 2024 F1 season. Now, the convoy will reach the shores of the Caspian Sea for an exciting battle. The Azerbaijan GP is set to kick off on F1’s longest city circuit. The spotlight will be on the critical battle between the top two teams of 2024- Red Bull and McLaren. The Baku street circuit would be an integral part of World Title developments.
The McLaren squad has been outperforming the Bulls in the last few races. Moreover, the RBR squad has not won a race in its last six outings. Further, the Milton Keynes-based outfit is undergoing a turbulent period. Whether it’s the internal tussle or the technical worries, the Red Bull team is enduring a rough patch. This allows the Woking squad to outplay the defending champions and secure an unassailable lead on the leader’s board.
Azerbaijan GP Preview: Can McLaren Outmaneuver The Defending Champions On One Of F1’s Longest Circuits?
The Papaya squad would be excited for another exciting race with its drivers in top form. In last year’s Baku showdown, McLaren ranked sixth-fastest team, lagging two seconds behind the pace-setting Red Bull. However, the dynamics have flipped in the span of one year, and the British squad is currently the fastest team. With the MCL38’s lightning-quick pace, the team is ready to take down the reigning champions. The McLaren team has eight races left to climb the ladder and clinch its first world title since 1998.
On the other hand, Red Bull is on a downward spiral, showing no sign of any immediate turnaround. Moreover, Max Verstappen’s lead on the Drivers’ points table is cut short to 62, courtesy of Lando Norris’s fearless approach. Thus, the only option left for Verstappen & CO is to sustain the damage and commit fewer mistakes.
The Baku circuit is an iconic racing track famous for its unpredictability. The Azerbaijan GP has been an exciting showdown since its F1 inaugural in 2016. A circuit stretching just over 6 km makes it one of the longest tracks on the 2024 F1 calendar. The tight section of 7.6m width forces the driver to commit mistakes. Meanwhile, the 2 km flat-out stretch allows rapid overtaking. The weather will be in the mid-twenties, with no chance of rain. However, the track will face strong gusts, as Baku is known as the “City of Winds.” Ultimately, it will be a fierce competition between all the ten F1 teams.
Major Upgrade: McLaren Develops New Floor Setup For Final Push
McLaren’s car development has been on a roll since the Miami GP. The technical and mechanical advancements have crowned it the fastest car in 2024. However, the team believes in minor tweaks instead of over-complicating the setup.
Now, contradictory to its basic approach, the team will soon install a mega floor upgrade in the MCL38. According to Chief Andrea Stella, the team awaits assurance before introducing it to the tracks. The new floor setup will likely be installed in three months.