McLaren is adjusting the MCL39 to better match Lando Norris’ aggressive style and unlock his full speed potential in qualifying.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has confirmed the team is working on updates to the MCL39 aimed at helping Lando Norris feel more confident during qualifying laps.
The British driver secured P2 on the grid at the Japanese Grand Prix, but couldn’t match Max Verstappen’s blistering final lap. While Norris continues to show strong race pace, he admits he’s often forced to push beyond his comfort zone to extract single-lap performance from the car when fuel loads are low.
“There are moments when the car doesn’t quite suit Lando’s aggressive driving style,” said Stella. “He ends up making small errors when he’s trying to squeeze out those last few tenths, especially in qualifying.”
The team believes it has now pinpointed the core issue and is working on solutions to help Norris find more consistency over one lap.
While Stella remained tight-lipped on the specifics, he hinted at a particular trait of the MCL39 that makes it less predictable at the limit.
“With Lando, we’ve identified an area of the car that needs to be smoother—especially on that first push lap,” he explained. “Now that we fully understand the problem, our focus is on making adjustments that will help the car respond more naturally to what Lando needs from it.”
Interestingly, Stella noted that Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri have slightly different feedback about the car’s behavior—despite both pushing the limits in qualifying.
“There’s a contrast between how Lando wants the car to react and the way the MCL39 currently behaves. Right now, it’s a bit too sensitive. Oscar seems more comfortable with this particular aspect, but he’s also got areas he’s still adapting to,” said Stella.
“Ultimately, both sides of the garage have room to improve. The drivers are asking for different things when they’re right on the edge, and our job is to bridge that gap.”
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Norris’ qualifying edge key in McLaren’s MCL39 fix
Norris’ qualifying edge key in McLaren’s MCL39 fix