McLaren rolled out several rounds of major improvements at last year’s Austrian and Singapore rounds that completely reversed its fortunes, going from a team struggling in midfield to one that could challenge for the podiums with Ferrari and Mercedes during the second half of the campaign.
During the first races of 2024, McLaren managed to consolidate its position and even get ahead of Mercedes. But when its MCL38 launched in February, the team had already said it had more promising development projects in the works that it wouldn’t be able to finalize in time for the launch version.
“This upgrade won’t be as big as the two we delivered last year to Austria and Singapore, but it should be a decent step,” Stella said. “It should be noticeable.
“I can’t say much more, because otherwise we are talking about numbers. On this I would like to remain confidential.
“But let’s say not as big, probably as Austria and Singapore, but visible – if things match our expectations, with the wind tunnel numbers, for example, and with the computer simulation.
“That’s always a big if, because even though the success rate of this correlation has been good over the last 12 months, there are always possible surprises.”
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, ahead of George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
McLaren’s main weaknesses – long, slow corners, tire degradation and aerodynamic efficiency – are three key areas the team attempted to address last winter, but which are still present on its 2024 car, with its updates of Miami as a first attempt to further mitigate them.
Nevertheless, the team surprised itself again this year with its on-track performances, with Lando Norris taking second place in the Chinese Grand Prix at a Shanghai circuit that was supposed to be one of its weakest circuits .
Instead, Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri struggled more at Suzuka, just seven months after scoring a double podium at last season’s Japanese GP.
