McLaren F1 News: Team Chief Foresees ‘Damage Limitation’ In Chinese GP

McLaren approaches the Chinese Grand Prix with caution with team boss Andrea Stella claiming the weekend will be 'damage limitation'.

Nov 18, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; McLaren F1 Team driver Oscar Piastri of Australia (81) during / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

In the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix, McLaren anticipates challenges that may impact their performance, as admitted by team boss Andrea Stella. Despite a strong start to the season, the Shanghai International Circuit's layout could expose the team's current weaknesses.

Key Takeaways:

• McLaren is preparing for a tough race in China, acknowledging the track's difficult layout may not suit their current car.
• The team remains optimistic about future upgrades that could offset their slow-speed deficits.
• This weekend’s race will also feature a new Sprint format, meaning there will only be one practice session.

As the team heads to Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix, Team Principal Andrea Stella has outlined the potential challenges and opportunities that await. The Woking-based team, currently third in the constructors' standings, faces a critical test as F1 returns to China for the first time in five years.

The Shanghai International Circuit, known for its complex mix of winding corners, slow-speed hairpins, and a long straight, is likely to highlight the deficiencies of the MCL38. Stella, speaking during the Suzuka race weekend, emphasized the circuit’s layout as particularly challenging given the car's current configuration. He stated, as quoted by Motorsportweek.com:

“Well, the difficulties in China definitely will be associated with not having been there for a long time."

Despite these anticipated difficulties, Stella also mentioned that every team would face challenges due to the unfamiliarity with the track, which could turn into an advantage. He shared his cautious optimism about overcoming these hurdles:

“Difficulties can also be seen from the opportunity side, because everyone will have difficulties, which means you can gain an advantage.

“I think where I’m a little bit more prudent about China is that there’s so much low speed and so many hairpins that definitely should not be the best track for us at this stage of the season."

Looking forward, McLaren is hopeful that upcoming upgrades to their car will address these slow-speed issues. Stella added:

“Hopefully we’ll, you know, we won’t be talking too much about car layout at the end of the season.

“Once we have developed the car, but for where we are at the moment, hairpins and low speed, they seem to be a place where we lose some time.

“So, I think China may be a bit of a damage limitation for us.

“And then from Miami onward, hopefully we start a kind of, you know, a better stage of this 2024 season and more to come in the second part of the season.”

Moreover, the Chinese Grand Prix will be the season's first Sprint event, further complicating strategies with only a single hour of practice before the races. Stella acknowledges the added pressure but sees it as an unavoidable part of the calendar that they must adapt to.

“Let’s say, ideally, you wouldn’t have had China as a Sprint event. Seen from a team point of view, let’s say, you know, like it just adds many complications.

“At the same time, it’s not something that we are in condition to influence. So, just, you know, we get this out of our heads and we focus on doing a good job.

“But considering, like I said before, that we may have some inherent limitations with our car, I’d rather have the others not to have too much practice.

“So, let’s keep it short and then we try to maximise the potential of what you can do in one session.”