McLaren has started 2024 in good form, heading into the fifth round of the season as the third team in the pecking order, ahead of Mercedes.
But even if it remains efficient on high-downforce circuits, the team admitted at the start of the year that its persistent weakness at low speeds had still not been corrected.
This weakness could come back to haunt it at some circuits more than others, with F1’s return to the Shanghai International Circuit being a particular headache for the Woking team.
The 5.4km circuit is not only littered with hairpins, but it also offers a unique start to the lap through the ever-tightening complex of Turns 1 to 4 which combines the type of slow, long corners where the McLaren lack of grip compared to its rivals.
“I must say that in this first part of the season, China is the track that worries me the most from a competitive point of view,” admitted Stella.
“You have so many hairpins at low speed. Even in turns two and three, you spend so much time in long corners.
“And I think that’s a theme that I’ve been repeating. So far we haven’t been able to improve the car enough in those long, low- and mid-speed corners.”
“So from a competitiveness point of view I would expect a tougher situation than here in Suzuka, Australia, and than in the first part of the season.
Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren
Photo by: Erik Junius
“China might be a bit of a damage limit for us. And then from Miami, hopefully we’ll start a better stage of this 2024 season and there will be more to come in the second part of the season. “
But Stella also acknowledged that China, host of the first sprint format of the season, offers some opportunities, as teams will only have one free practice session to familiarize themselves with the circuit and its new tarmac before qualifying for the sprint.
“It will certainly be a difficult test, from several points of view. What will the situation be like on the tarmac?
“At the same time, let’s not forget that China was one of the most severe tracks when it came to graining. So how will the tires cope with that?
It’s also a tricky track in terms of balancing some very high speed corners, like the entry to the first corner, and then many low speed sections.
“Seeing it in isolation is a headache. But once you look at it from a competitive perspective, I think you have to think: ‘If I don’t do a perfect job, but a little better job than others, then this could be a great opportunity.
Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble
McLaren has started 2024 in good form, heading into the fifth round of the season as the third team in the pecking order, ahead of Mercedes.
But even if it remains efficient on high-downforce circuits, the team admitted at the start of the year that its persistent weakness at low speeds had still not been corrected.
This weakness could come back to haunt it at some circuits more than others, with F1’s return to the Shanghai International Circuit being a particular headache for the Woking team.
The 5.4km circuit is not only littered with hairpins, but it also offers a unique start to the lap through the ever-tightening complex of Turns 1 to 4 which combines the type of slow, long corners where the McLaren lack of grip compared to its rivals.
“I must say that in this first part of the season, China is the track that worries me the most from a competitive point of view,” admitted Stella.
“You have so many hairpins at low speed. Even in turns two and three, you spend so much time in long corners.
“And I think that’s a theme that I’ve been repeating. So far we haven’t been able to improve the car enough in those long, low- and mid-speed corners.”
“So from a competitiveness point of view I would expect a tougher situation than here in Suzuka, Australia, and than in the first part of the season.
Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren
Photo by: Erik Junius
“China might be a bit of a damage limit for us. And then from Miami, hopefully we’ll start a better stage of this 2024 season and there will be more to come in the second part of the season. “
But Stella also acknowledged that China, host of the first sprint format of the season, offers some opportunities, as teams will only have one free practice session to familiarize themselves with the circuit and its new tarmac before qualifying for the sprint.
“It will certainly be a difficult test, from several points of view. What will the situation be like on the tarmac?
“At the same time, let’s not forget that China was one of the most severe tracks when it came to graining. So how will the tires cope with that?
It’s also a tricky track in terms of balancing some very high speed corners, like the entry to the first corner, and then many low speed sections.
“Seeing it in isolation is a headache. But once you look at it from a competitive perspective, I think you have to think: ‘If I don’t do a perfect job, but a little better job than others, then this could be a great opportunity.
Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble