McLaren's Unwavering Pursuit: Closing the Gap with Red Bull

McLaren team boss Andrea Stella has acknowledged that despite Lando Norris' dominant victory at the Zandvoort circuit, the performance of the MCL38 is still "not enough" to ensure it's the best car on every track. Stella has promised that more upgrades are on the way as the team continues to take the fight to their rivals, Red Bull.

Mastering the Circuit, Navigating the Challenges Ahead

A Favorable Track, But Challenges Remain

The Dutch Grand Prix proved to be a particularly favorable event for the McLaren team, with Norris securing a comfortable win despite losing the lead to Max Verstappen at the start. Stella admitted that the Zandvoort circuit seemed to suit the MCL38 well, much like the team's success in Hungary earlier in the season. However, he cautioned that the car's performance remains highly track-dependent, and they cannot assume similar dominance at every venue.

Upgrades Aimed at Expanding Competitiveness

Stella acknowledged that the current configuration of the MCL38 may not be enough to consistently be the best car on the grid. To address this, the team plans to deliver more upgrades before the end of the season, with the goal of being more competitive even in areas where Red Bull has traditionally held an advantage.

Navigating the Uncertainty of Relative Competitiveness

Assessing the relative competitiveness of the MCL38 compared to its rivals has proven to be a challenge for the team. Stella explained that the car seems to perform well on high-downforce, long-corner tracks like Zandvoort and Hungary, but may struggle on circuits with high-speed corners, such as Silverstone, where Red Bull has historically been dominant.

The Missed Opportunity in Belgium

Stella also noted the missed opportunity to gauge the MCL38's performance in dry conditions at the Belgian Grand Prix, where qualifying was affected by intermediate tires. This made it difficult to determine the true relative competitiveness of the car.

A Promising Overtaking Maneuver

During the Zandvoort race, the McLaren team realized that Norris had the pace to overtake Verstappen on track, rather than relying on pit strategy. Stella explained that Norris' data showed he could maintain a fast pace without compromising the car's balance or tire management. The team decided not to focus on an undercut strategy, as it became apparent that Norris could execute a successful overtake on the track.

Continued Pursuit of Perfection

Despite the impressive victory at Zandvoort, Stella acknowledged that the MCL38's performance is still not enough to ensure it is the best car at every circuit. The team's commitment to delivering more upgrades before the end of the season underscores their unwavering pursuit of closing the gap with Red Bull and becoming the dominant force in Formula 1.