McLaren will try to”limit the damage” in China
McLaren boss Andrea Stella thinks his team's chances of a good weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix are slim, and wants to limit the damage above all.
Formula 1 returns to China for the first time since 2019. The British team is not sure if the Shanghai International Circuit is suitable for the strengths of this year’s McLaren. A team that is also experiencing a good start to the season with a competitive car.
The Shanghai circuit consists of several slow corners and medium-speed turns, which McLaren has struggled with over the past two years. Unsurprisingly, Andrea Stella is concerned about McLaren’s competitiveness approaching the weekend in China.
« I must say that from this first part of the season, China is the track that worries me the most in terms of competitiveness. You have so many low-speed corners. Even in turns two and three, you spend so much time in the long corners », Stella said.
Translate: « And I think it’s a theme that I’ve repeated. So far, we haven’t been able to improve the car enough in these long, low-speed and medium-speed corners. So, from a competitiveness standpoint, we would expect a more difficult situation than here at Suzuka, in Australia, and during the first part of the season.
MCL38 is afraid of potential damages. China could be a bit of a limit to the damages for us. And then from Miami, I hope we will start a better stage of this 2024 season and that others will be coming in the second part of the season, says the manager.
A new race format to manage
The sprint format of F1 is returning this weekend and is the first of six events on the 2024 calendar. The organizers have slightly modified the format, with the sprint taking place as early as Friday, while the qualifying sessions remain in their conventional place on Saturday afternoon.
Given that there will only be one training session before the Friday sprint qualifiers, Stella is convinced that there will still be opportunities to create a surprise given the nature of the format.
« It will certainly be a difficult test, from several points of view », he added. « What will be the situation on the tarmac? »
« At the same time, let us not forget that China was one of the toughest tracks in terms of graining. So how will the tires cope with this? It is also a tricky track in terms of balancing fast corners, like the entry to turn one, and then many slow sections. »
« Seeing it in isolation gives me a headache. But once you see it from a competitive point of view, I think you have to consider that if I don’t do a perfect job, but a slightly better job than others, then it could be a great opportunity.
