McLaren has a rich and mysterious history in Formula 1. The 2024 season began with McLaren in a fierce battle against Aston Martin and Mercedes. However, Ferrari seemed to have the advantage in the early races. To narrow this gap and compete with their rivals, the Woking-based team decided to introduce improvements during the Miami Grand Prix. They believe these improvements will significantly enhance the performance of the MCL60.
Over the past two seasons, McLaren has been stuck in a cycle where they start the season with a slow car and then make improvements halfway through. To break this cycle and make a run for second place in the championship, the English team is introducing upgrades in Miami. Team principal Andrea Stella is optimistic that these improvements will propel the MCL60 to higher positions in the standings.
Stella cautiously expressed his optimism, stating that the upgrade package is not as extensive as last year’s updates in Austria and Singapore. However, he believes it is a step in the right direction and will bring noticeable improvements to the MCL60. This could potentially change the team’s perception and provide Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with the opportunity to secure their first victory.
Andrea Stella, who has a long career in Formula 1, joined McLaren in 2015. He initially took on operational responsibilities and has since climbed the hierarchy. When his predecessor left the team for Sauber, Stella seized the opportunity and McLaren has not regretted it due to his recent successes.
Impressed with the progress, the team is pleased with Stella’s leadership. The owner of the American team believes Stella played a crucial role in McLaren’s progress. He sees Stella as a leader within the team and believes her restructuring decisions have brought clarity to their operations.
Despite the positive atmosphere within McLaren, other teams will also be introducing their own improvements in Miami or Imola. This could potentially negate any advantage McLaren has. However, the team remains confident in their ability to challenge Ferrari, as demonstrated in China. Therefore, the battle for second place in the constructors’ championship is open to any team.