McLaren's Plan to Overcome Las Vegas GP Weakness

McLaren is gearing up to tackle its historical struggles at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a circuit that has proven to be one of their weakest in recent years. Team Principal Andrea Stella confirmed that the team has "taken action" following their disappointing 2023 performance, where both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished well behind the frontrunners, lagging by over 40 seconds. The team identified issues with tire behavior and aerodynamic efficiency in the cold desert conditions and on a low-downforce track.

Why it matters:

McLaren's recent surge in performance has seen them challenging for wins and podiums. However, their weakness on specific track types, like Las Vegas, could be a significant hurdle in their championship ambitions. Addressing this vulnerability is crucial for McLaren to establish themselves as consistent frontrunners across all circuits and truly challenge teams like Red Bull and Ferrari.

The Details:

• 2023 Performance Review: Last year, McLaren's MCL60 finished sixth and seventh in Las Vegas, qualifying a substantial seven-tenths behind the leaders. They were comprehensively outpaced by both Ferrari cars and Max Verstappen, with Norris and Piastri finishing 43 and 51 seconds behind Mercedes' winner George Russell, respectively.
• Identified Issues: Andrea Stella highlighted several key problems from 2023:
  • Tire Behavior: Significant difficulties in getting the tires to work properly, leading to poor qualifying pace and severe graining during the race.
  • Aerodynamic Efficiency: When attempting to reduce drag with a low-downforce rear wing, the car lost too much overall efficiency.
  • Car Set-up: Struggles with car set-up, particularly in trying to compensate for tire graining and understeer.
• Track Characteristics: The Las Vegas Strip circuit, with its lack of long, fast corners, inherently neutralizes one of the MCL39's biggest strengths. The chilly desert conditions also limit the effectiveness of McLaren's innovative cooling system, which typically provides an advantage in hotter races.

Looking Ahead:

McLaren's proactive steps to analyze and address their weaknesses in Las Vegas are a testament to their ambition, but the true test will come on track.

• Targeted Improvements: Stella confirmed the team knows the direction they need to take regarding tire management, aerodynamic efficiency, and car set-up compared to last year.
• Uncertain Outcome: While actions have been taken in response to last year's unsatisfactory performance, Stella remains cautious, stating that only the race weekend in Vegas will reveal if these changes are enough to make them competitive.
• Driver's Perspective: Lando Norris, despite his recent successes, isn't overly optimistic, acknowledging Las Vegas was their worst race last year and that competitors like Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari were incredibly strong. However, he also noted the significant improvements the team has made this year.

What's next:

The efficacy of McLaren's adjustments will be closely watched at the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix. A strong performance there would signal a major step forward for the team in their quest for overall championship contention, proving they can adapt and compete on all types of circuits.