McLaren says it’s grateful Mercedes dominated the Las Vegas Grand Prix, as that prevented important rival Ferrari from slashing an excessive amount of into its constructors’ championship lead.
On a weekend when Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri struggled to seek out tempo with their MCL38 automobiles, as McLaren proved to be the fourth quickest staff, there was an enormous danger of seeing its benefit within the staff battle wiped away if Ferrari dominated.
Ultimately, with Mercedes locking out a 1-2, Ferrari may handle no higher than third and fourth – which meant the Prancing Horse solely reduce the hole to McLaren by 12 factors. It means there’s now a 24-point hole between the 2 groups forward of the ultimate races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Talking in regards to the more and more tight combat, McLaren boss Andrea Stella mentioned: “It is disappointing that we misplaced 12 factors within the championship.
“However on the similar time, contemplating how a lot we struggled this weekend, in some way, we actually must thank Mercedes for having carried out so sturdy and secured the P1, P2 place.
“In any other case, Ferrari would have been a good larger risk within the constructors’ championship.”
Whereas McLaren feels that the layouts of Qatar and Abu Dhabi ought to swimsuit its automotive higher, Stella reckons that the competitiveness of the highest squads this 12 months means it must be cautious about taking something with no consideration about how the ultimate races play out.
Andrea Stella, Crew Principal, McLaren F1 Crew
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures
“It is true, and I’ve mentioned it myself, that Qatar and Abu Dhabi must be territory that’s extra appropriate for the way in which we have now designed our automotive,” he mentioned.
“However, on the similar time, I feel we should be cautious that the extent of the highest groups in System 1 in 2024 is unprecedented.
“I actually cannot bear in mind a season in System 1 the place 4 groups have been working at such a excessive degree, not solely as a result of they’re in situation to win, however they’re in situation to dominate – like Mercedes did right here – with faultless weekends.
“This implies, for me, we go to Qatar considering that the automotive might carry out properly, but when we expect that that is a simple trip, we will probably be hit by the fact.”
McLaren struggles extra in low-speed corners, which suggests this weekend’s quick Losail venue ought to in idea be a a lot better stomping floor – because it proved final 12 months when Piastri gained the dash race.
However Stella thinks that the margins are so tight that any of the highest 4 groups may come out on high – which may swing the constructors’ battle vastly.
“We go there realizing that we have to maximize the potential of the automotive,” he mentioned. “If we try this, then definitely from a observe structure standpoint the automotive ought to spend numerous time the place it has been designed to carry out.
“However I might anticipate Ferrari, and definitely even Purple Bull and Mercedes, to have gotten numerous data from this weekend as properly, to be in situation to win in Qatar.
“So it is a very fascinating, way more than I might have appreciated, ultimate a part of the season. I at all times attempt to get issues to be boring, however that is not the case.”
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