McLaren is currently ranked third among the fastest teams on the F1 grid in 2024. The team had a somewhat disappointing performance in Suzuka as they failed to meet their expectations. Although McLaren did exceptionally well in qualifying, during the race, their MCL38 car was no match for Ferrari’s SF-24. The McLaren team boss believes they will struggle to keep up with the leading team this year.
Ferrari’s SF-24 has been performing exceptionally well, allowing their drivers to deliver great performances. Despite McLaren’s better qualifying, they struggled with hard compounds during the race, resulting in a drop in their position on the grid. The team led by Andrea Stella finished the Japanese GP in fourth and eighth place, thanks to their drivers.
McLaren is set to receive their first upgrade package in Miami, but it is unlikely to be enough to close the gap. The team’s main weakness in terms of pace was exposed during the race in Suzuka. The initial upgrade package will help improve their pace, and Stella is trying to maintain a positive outlook.
As mentioned earlier, McLaren will receive their first upgrade package for the MCL38 in Miami, and the team boss believes that is when the team will start to flourish. However, before that, they will face a hurdle in the form of the Chinese GP. Unlike the international racing circuit of Suzuka, which favored McLaren, the Shanghai layout poses a challenge. The team will need to strategize better to minimize the damage caused by the Japanese Grand Prix in the next race. With future developments, Stella believes the MCL38 will be able to adapt better to any track, alleviating concerns about circuit layouts.
In the first four races, McLaren scored twice as many points as Mercedes. The future development plan will help the team maintain its position in the 2024 constructors’ championship.
