McLaren knows where the team needs to improve in 2024 to compete with Red Bull

McLaren’s goal for 2024 is clear: to compete with Red Bull. Since their resurgence halfway through the season, the Orange team has proven to be the most consistent. In the last six races, the English team has finished on the podium five times. Oscar Piastri even won a sprint race (in Qatar).

The improvements made were impressive and really launched McLaren’s season during the summer. During the Brazilian Grand Prix, Lando Norris even came close to snatching the race leader status from Max Verstappen in the early laps. Although Red Bull’s pace is much higher than McLaren’s, the team based in Woking has ensured its determination to compete with Red Bull to the fullest next season.

Competing with Red Bull is one of the priorities.

At the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Lando Norris achieved a solid P2. The British driver even came close to overtaking Verstappen before the Dutchman ultimately pulled away. Andrea Stella had then stated that the difference between the cars essentially stemmed from downforce and tire degradation. However, the team director has since reconsidered his statements, adding that the improvements that will need to be made go far beyond downforce.

“We have set certain goals, let’s say, but I can’t disclose in which field they are and how we will proceed,” explained Andrea Stella. “What I can say is that it’s not just a question of aerodynamics. It’s a combination of aerodynamics and mechanics.”

McLaren confident for 2024

The start of the 2023 season was very concerning for McLaren. The leaders even admitted to having completely missed the mark in the development of the car for the beginning of the season. However, the technical guidelines moved in the right direction and allowed for a stunning comeback in the standings. Thanks to these improvements, especially towards the end of the season, the team is feeling reassured for the 2024 season and the development of the race car.

While some teams like Mercedes and Ferrari should opt for a complete overhaul of their cars, McLaren and Andrea Stella believe they are ahead. The starting point is much more performant than last season. Honestly, where you stand with the car for next year depends partly on where you are this year, because it’s the starting point for almost everyone, explained the Italian director. But it depends on the degree of development. This slope [at McLaren] started around July, and it’s a very long period that approximately corresponds to the work you do on the car for next year.

A Formative Year 2023

The great strength of McLaren this season is to have accepted that they made mistakes and to work on radical changes. While some basic aspects of the MC60 have been kept, the majority of elements have been replaced. Throughout the campaign, the improvements made have been approached differently from the initial planned strategy.

“« The car that we launched in March includes certain elements that have been developed in continuity, but most of them have been developed in discontinuity,” said Andrea Stella. “« Especially regarding the floor, the bodywork, the rear wing, and to some extent, the front wing. We just needed to approach different concepts and start making them work. It wasn’t simply a linear iterative development of the initial concept of the launch car.” “»”

McLaren is currently 4th in the constructor standings (prior to the Las Vegas GP) and has a 21-point lead over Aston Martin.