McLaren plans a new update for 2023
McLaren F1 Team boss, Andrea Stella, announced that a new improvement to the MCL60 is set to be released soon, after several weekends of satisfaction. However, the English team does not want to encroach on its work for its 2024 model.
As we are at the midpoint of the season, the time has come for the teams to focus on their work and analysis for next year. However, as they prepare to put their 2024 model in the wind tunnel for the first time, the English team still wants to make one last effort for their MCL60.
Beyond tailor-made solutions to reduce drag, which are necessary for high-speed circuits like Monza and Las Vegas that will be coming later in the season, team director Andrea Stella says he has planned other improvements to continue the momentum of the recent podium finishes in Britain and Hungary.
A new MCL60 update is coming soon
« We are working on an evolution of these concepts for after the break », he said. « There are another series of changes on the bodywork and the floor. We still have a few days of work left, but if we succeed, we will definitely try to bring it to one of the upcoming Grand Prix ».
Also, if the previous update was successful for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s team, beyond expectations, the Italian boss is cautious and does not want to get carried away. “« We understood what happened with that one,” Stella explained. “« But what we are working on goes beyond just a few millimeters, it is a conceptual evolution ».” “« So, there is a certain degree of uncertainty with aerodynamic developments, and the proof only comes when we test these things on track, even if we have good correlation in the wind tunnel and good CFD correlation, we are still at the limit of knowledge. »”
« It’s difficult to have a solution that works on next year’s car and can then be applied to the current model »
“«We will stop working on the old car when we leave the Toyota wind tunnel,” said the Italian engineer, explaining that it would mark the transition to a new year for McLaren, which is working with Toyota’s aging wind tunnel. “«The new wind tunnel will only contain next year’s model ».”
« On the model of next year, there isn’t much that can be developed and applied to this year’s car. It is very difficult to have a solution that works on next year’s car and can then be applied to this year’s car. Therefore, this is unlikely. », he concluded.
