Andrea Stella confirms the weaknesses of the MCL39

The season has not yet started, but at McLaren, the first winter tests have already highlighted an issue that could complicate things for them: a rear instability on the brand new MCL39. It was Lando Norris himself who raised the red flag. The Brit, who completed several laps on Thursday during the pre-season tests in Bahrain, quickly felt difficulties with an unpredictable car.

Issues of oversteering and understeering marked his stints, up to a tense moment at turn 4: A loud crunch forced him to shift into reverse to get going again. Andrea Stella, the McLaren team principal, does not seek to downplay the situation. On the contrary, he validates his driver’s analysis: I think Lando’s comments about the rear instability are accurate, he confides to the media after the tests.

Bahrain, the unforgiving circuit

Difficult to do worse than Bahrain for exposing a car’s weaknesses. This circuit has always been a headache for McLaren, and history doesn’t lie: only one podium in 17 years, that of Lewis Hamilton in 2010. Needless to say, this is not where the Woking team typically shines.

Why is this track so unforgiving? Andrea Stella has the answer: « When you come to Bahrain, I would be very, very surprised if you didn’t have a limitation of the rear train and a limitation of traction. In a way, these limitations are inherent to the circuit. »

McLaren had targeted this area as a development priority this winter. According to what we’ve seen in the data, we think we’ve improved from this point of view, but you improve in a way that will never make these kinds of problems disappear, Stella moderates.

The team director recalls that the technical limits imposed by the FIA make any development more complex. You will always suffer from the same limitation, but ultimately, you have to try to reduce these limitations more and more, he explains.

And to remember a time when a technological revolution could radically change the game: « The only time I saw something change so radically was in 2011 and 2012 with the exhaust effect. From one session to the next, the car no longer had any traction problems! » But this kind of innovation is no longer conceivable today, and McLaren will have to find other solutions to stabilize their single-seater.

McLaren under pressure

The first Grand Prix of the season will take place in Melbourne on March 16. Until then, the British team will have to work tirelessly to understand how to optimize their package. Because while McLaren struggles with its rear-end issues, the competition is not waiting for them.

So, will McLaren manage to get back on track by Melbourne? The answer will be on the track in a few weeks!