JAPAN: McLaren has confirmed that they achieved an incredible improvement of one second per lap over the course of the F1 2023 season. This announcement comes in the wake of their outstanding performance at the Japanese Grand Prix, where they secured a double podium finish.
The McLaren team began the season with modest expectations after encountering challenges in meeting development targets during the winter. The departure of former technical director James Key in March added to the uncertainty.
However, a series of bold mid-season upgrades propelled McLaren to the forefront, with Lando Norris clinching second place in four out of the last seven races at Silverstone, Budapest, Singapore, and Suzuka.
Team principal Andrea Stella initially refrained from providing a specific figure for the team’s improvement, but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s estimation of a one-second gain was eventually validated.
Stella confirmed the speculations after the Japanese Grand Prix, adding that the improvement depends on the track. He believes that to be the second-best team at Suzuka, the team needed to be one second quicker than they were in Bahrain.
Stella attributed this remarkable progress to the relentless dedication and collective effort of the entire McLaren team. He gave special praise to the Peter Prodromou-led technical director aerodynamic department, emphasizing their crucial role in charting the right course.
Despite the magnitude of their improvement, Stella downplayed the notion that McLaren now holds the momentum over rivals Mercedes and Ferrari in the pursuit of Red Bull. He stressed the importance of generating initial momentum, citing it as the real challenge, and lauded the key figures instrumental in McLaren’s resurgence.
With the 2023 season proving to be a testament to McLaren’s resilience and determination, the F1 world eagerly anticipates how this newfound prowess will shape future competitions.
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