McLaren has revealed it’s holding again on bringing a brand new flooring for its System 1 automotive as a result of the crew thinks it dangers the identical downgrade issues rivals have confronted.
The Woking-based outfit is locked in a good struggle with Pink Bull for the F1 championships this yr, and accepts it has a shout of successful each constructors’ and drivers’ crowns.
With so little efficiency distinction between vehicles, McLaren is conscious that any features that may be constituted of upgrades may very well be decisive.
Nonetheless, the squad has admitted to some warning about introducing a flooring improve that it has been engaged on, in case it triggers the type of unintended penalties that different squads have encountered.
All through the 2024 season, a number of outfits have hit bother when new flooring designs, geared toward growing downforce, have additionally delivered undesirable unwanted side effects.
Aston Martin’s season took a downturn at Imola with a significant improve there, Ferrari encountered a return of high-speed bouncing from Spain, and Mercedes had some questions over its Spa improvement.
Extra just lately, Pink Bull has been questioning whether or not the steadiness issues it’s going through are a consequence of a brand new flooring design it launched on the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
McLaren crew principal Andrea Stella says one of many keys to his squad not hitting any mid-season hurdles up to now this yr is that it solely introduced one correct main improve – so the dangers of bother have been minimised.
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Pictures
And he provides that, whereas work is ongoing again on the manufacturing unit on an upgraded flooring, McLaren will wait till it’s sure the brand new half works earlier than introducing it.
“We have not introduced a major improve since Miami,” stated Stella about why the crew had escaped the destiny that different squads have hit with upgrades.
“The subsequent related improve, not as huge as Miami, was in Zandvoort, and it did not contain the [whole] flooring – it was only a element. It was another areas of the automotive.
“However there is a cause why we’ve not introduced some upgrades – as a result of we see that, had we pressed the go button, we would have had some doubts when these components have been examined full-scale on the actual automotive.
“So we’re taking our time to persuade ourself that the event is mature to be taken trackside.”
Whereas McLaren was capable of dominate the current Dutch Grand Prix weekend, Stella thinks that efficiency was the exception somewhat than the norm – with gaps between the vehicles minimal.
Nonetheless, he reckons {that a} robust exhibiting at Monza final weekend – the place McLaren locked out the entrance row and secured a double podium end – exhibits it may be fast anyplace now.
Stella added: “I believe truly the grid order may be very a lot to do with the drivers with the ability to nail the grip accessible, somewhat than the automotive being a dominant automotive.
“If we have a look at the actual lap instances, somewhat than simply merely taking a look at positions P1/P2, then we see that each driver of the quickest 4 groups was in situation to really lock the primary place on the grid.”