McLaren team principal Andrea Stella hopes to once again lead the development race in 2024 in order for the team to solidify their position as third fastest on the grid.
Despite a very shaky start to the 2023 Formula 1 season, McLaren managed to rectify a lot their issues and mounted an impressive charge in the latter half of the season to eventually finish P4 in the Constructors’ Championship.
From failing to score in the opening race, with Norris finishing last of the running finishers, to scoring a double podium finish in Japan, the team’s rate of development was unmatched across the season. With a stronger base to start with in the MCL38, another development charge from the team could see them leapfrog Ferrari.
Despite encouragement from the factory in Woking, team principal Andrea Stella was wary of predicting the team’s potential, noting that every team will bring upgrades as the season progresses. Airing on the side of caution, he says he will wait to see the correlation between factory and track as the team introduces their upgrades.
“It becomes a race of upgrades,” Stella said. “And one step of upgrades won’t be enough, because [Ferrari] will also upgrade. But last year we were able to out-develop our competitors, in a season we brought more lap time than competitors. So for us, this remains the objective.
“As long as we see that what we plan to bring trackside actually materialises, then we are happy because we know that we are [on] our trajectory, which we think is a strong trajectory.”
Looking to the long remainder of the season, Stella sets the team’s sights on maintaining and solidifying their position as third fastest, ahead of Mercedes and closely behind Ferrari. Playing down the team’s hopes, he says the target is maximising their results week on week.
The Italian also noted that the team plans to bring upgrades to the MCL38 for the Miami Grand Prix early next month, which will bring clarity to the team’s development path.
“I think looking at the facts, looking at the numbers, if we could retain third position in the championship, just establishing McLaren as the third best car, that will be a strong result for our team,” he said. “At the same time, there are some circuits in which we look like we can compete with Ferrari. So then we say: ‘Why not?’
“But in fairness, in Formula 1, it’s not about wishing to ‘I would like [to be in such a position]’, you just push as hard as possible. You just try to develop your car as much as possible, maximise the race weekends as much as possible and then you try and see at the end where you are.
“After Miami, when we introduce some developments, we will have further information to see what we can compete for.”
