Valtteri Bottas reveals what made McLaren’s 2023 MCL60 so special — next-level suspension and stability in high-speed Formula 1 corners.
Valtteri Bottas reflected on his test with McLaren F1, during which he drove the 2023 MCL60.
This is the car that brought the Woking-based team closer to success, notably thanks to an excellent upgrade at the Austrian Grand Prix, followed by an even better one at Silverstone, which propelled Lando Norris onto the podium and the front row.
The Finnish driver’s recent experience seems to confirm what remains one of the team’s secrets to success: exceptionally good handling, particularly in terms of suspension, which clearly helps reduce tyre wear.
“I really felt the difference,” Bottas said on the Beyond the Grid podcast. “I knew the car was good in high-speed corners, but the stability it had, for example, in the last two corners of Barcelona, was next level. I really enjoyed driving that car with such a great team.”
Bottas recently drove a car from a previous regulation era and admitted he preferred it to current F1 machines, which are significantly larger and much stiffer in behaviour.
“The handling is much more enjoyable. The cars have a bit more vertical movement. The cars are vertically a bit more compliant, kerb riding is slightly better, and the car was lighter and a bit smaller.”
“I clearly prefer that era of Formula 1. That’s why I like the direction Formula 1 is heading for next year, with slightly lighter and smaller cars. I think it should be more enjoyable for all drivers next year.”
