F1 News: McLaren Has Steep Warning For Red Bull - "Very Close Or Even Faster"
McLaren's team boss Andrea Stella has indicated the team's growing challenge to Red Bull Racing's dominance. Despite Red Bull's near-total control of the 2023 Formula 1 season, McLaren showed signs of closing the gap, hinting at an intensified rivalry in 2024.
Key Takeaways:
- Significant Improvement Post-Summer: Starting the 2023 season with underwhelming performances, McLaren underwent internal changes leading to a remarkable upswing in form post the Austrian Grand Prix, ultimately positioning themselves as Red Bull Racing's closest challengers.
- Qualifying Strength versus Race Pace Gap: Stella highlighted McLaren's competitive edge in certain qualifying rounds.
- Confidence in Continued Progression: Despite the gap in race pace, Stella expressed confidence in McLaren's ongoing improvement, citing a realistic chance of further lap time gains in 2024.
McLaren's journey through the 2023 Formula 1 season was marked by a dramatic shift in performance. The team's initial struggles gave way to significant improvements, especially after the summer break around the Austrian Grand Prix, with McLaren emerging as the second-strongest team on the grid towards the season's end.
This allowed not only Lando Norris to show huge levels of performance, but rookie driver Oscar Piastri also wowed fans, taking home a sprint race win and the only win of the season for the British team.
"In some qualifying we were very close or even faster, like in Qatar and Brazil. In the race, however, Red Bull were driving away from us, especially in the second part of the stints.
"Then they are two to four tenths ahead of us. We have to make up for that in the winter."
Looking forward to 2024, Stella's optimism about McLaren's prospects is evident and given credibility by the huge jump the team made in 2023.
"I think we can take another step next year. Maybe not as much as in the second half of last season, but I still see a chance to find lap time."
McLaren's late-season surge in 2023 sets the stage for a more competitive 2024 Formula 1 season, but with Red Bull already focussing on its 2025 car, it's questionable as to whether any team this year can show the Milton Keynes outfit a level of competitiveness that would scare them.