Formula 1 had an unexpected break in the calendar this April, and McLaren intends to take advantage of the period to improve its performance before the Miami GP. The team principal, Andrea Stella, revealed that the main focus will be to evolve the car’s aerodynamic performance to fight for more important positions.
Read more F1: FIA places safety as a priority after Bearman accident
The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GPs ended up creating a five-week window between the Japanese GP and the next round in Miami. The gap occurred due to the conflict in the Middle East involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, forcing the category to cancel trips to the region.
According to Stella, the break happens for unwanted reasons, but it ended up being positive for the British team: “First of all, let me say that we have this free time for the wrong reasons, but having said that, since we had a very intense and pressured schedule-wise program, this break is welcome,” he said.
The manager highlighted that the additional time will allow accelerating the development of the MCL40: “For McLaren, this gives us the possibility to produce the parts we want to take to the track and evolve our car, make it faster, especially when it comes to aerodynamic performance.”
During the weekend in Suzuka, Stella also pointed out that the team still needs to improve how it uses the power unit. The second place achieved by Oscar Piastri at the Japanese GP was seen as a sign of progress, but there is still room for improvement.
Read more F1: Audi holds filming day with Hülkenberg and Bortoleto in Monza
After the race, the team principal reinforced that the extra time will help in this process: “I think this gives us more time to work with HPP-Mercedes (engine supplier), for example, finalizing all the necessary tools to explore the power unit,” he said.
Stella also highlighted the importance of the break for the team, after an intense start to the season. According to him, the off-season interval was one of the most demanding of his career in Formula 1, with little rest time before the start of the championship: “It is also important because it gives the staff a chance to breathe a little, since we had one of the most intense breaks I remember in Formula 1. When we started going to the track, including pre-season testing, everything was very intense,” he added.
Finally, Stella emphasized that McLaren wants to take advantage of the period to reduce the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari and come back stronger in Miami: “It is good that, in a season that will be long, we have time to breathe and recover ground from an operational and technical point of view, so that we can fight for more important positions when we return to racing, starting with Miami,” he concluded.
Read more F1 safety car driver gives tips about Nürburgring to Verstappen: «Cooperate with the team»
