Photo Credit: McLaren Racing
McLaren’s in-season development throughout this year has been something special. While it’s not uncommon for teams to come out of the traps at the opening race of a season with a vastly upgraded car from the previous season, to produce this level of development in it and improve a car that couldn’t make Q3 at the beginning of the season in Bahrain to now consistently be a podium contender is simply sensational.
McLaren are currently chasing down Aston Martin for P4 in the Constructors Championship and are now only 17 points behind the Silverstone-based team after their car performance has tailed off in the second half of the season.
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris spoke after the main race in Qatar about how they are now rapidly closing down Aston Martin and starting to think could it be possible to overhaul Ferrari for P3. The Woking-based team are 79 points behind their Italian rivals, but Piastri and Norris are open to this end of season challenge.
“It’s doable. I think so. A couple of races ago it was, 70-something to Aston. I don’t know what it is now? Seventeen? I mean, Fernando said we were overconfident as well,” Norris quipped.
McLaren are undoubtedly performing at a very high standard and now have the fastest pit stop record ever, recording a 1.8 second stop during the Qatar weekend.
Norris believes the fact McLaren are now consistently challenging for big results is galvanising the team to continue this amazing run and keep the success coming.
“I think we’re just doing a good job, not just in terms of pace but today we had a 1.8 second pit stop which is pretty impressive from the guys. They’ve been working extremely hard so to reward the whole team consistently is only more motivating and a bigger boost every weekend.
“They like the taste of success. It’s the first time they’re getting it consistently and I think that only makes them want it more and more and more every weekend that we’re doing so the guys are doing a great job,” said the Brit.
Piastri recognises that beating Ferrari in the championship is a huge ask but is willing to accept the challenge. Suzuka and Qatar has suited the MCL60 with lots of high-speed corners playing to the strengths of the package.
Tracks like Interlagos and Las Vegas could be more difficult, however.
“I think Suzuka and here have probably been tracks we’ve been looking at for quite a while in terms of what’s going to favour us. I think there’s going to be some races that are going to be more difficult than here and probably will suit other teams a bit better.
“I think 79 points in what, five races and a couple of Sprints? It’s a big challenge but yeah, we’ll give it a go. I think obviously the gap to Aston now is very achievable. But yeah, hopefully we can do it,” concluded Piastri.
