McLaren’s upgraded MCL38 has been delivering more than what the team expected. Andrea Stella, the team principal, revealed that the performance gains have exceeded their initial simulations. While rivals are struggling with turning data from simulations into real lap times, McLaren is experiencing the opposite effect.
After unveiling a heavily revised MCL38 at the Miami Grand Prix, McLaren saw Lando Norris clinch his first Formula 1 victory. Norris finished seven seconds ahead of Max Verstappen, and although McLaren hasn’t repeated this victory, they secured second place at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and again in Monaco.
Norris was just 0.725 seconds behind Verstappen at Imola, while Oscar Piastri was seven seconds behind Charles Leclerc in Monaco. While teams like Mercedes and Red Bull are facing issues aligning their factory data with track performance, McLaren’s discrepancies are working in their favor. Stella mentioned that the car is showing more downforce in all conditions and is performing better than expected, even in low-speed corners.
Stella emphasized the importance of understanding why the upgrades are more effective than anticipated. He noted that while the car’s performance matches their on-track measurements and expected data, the actual lap time gains exceed their simulations. According to Stella, “You do your simulation and you think you will gain X. But it looks like you gain X plus a little bit.”
McLaren currently stands third in the Constructors’ Championship with 184 points, trailing Red Bull’s 276. In the Drivers’ standings, Norris is in third place, 56 points behind Verstappen.
McLaren is facing a unique ‘luxury problem’ with their upgraded MCL38, as the car delivers more than anticipated. This unexpected performance boost is something the team is eager to understand fully to capitalize on future developments.
Source: Planetf1
