McLaren’s dramatic return to the front of the F1 grid shows how mindset, teamwork, and car development can redefine a team’s future.
What a difference a year makes. Even more so, what a difference two years can bring.
Not long ago, neither Lando Norris nor Oscar Piastri had ever claimed a Formula 1 race win. Fast forward twelve months and McLaren has gone from fighting in the midfield to leading the charge at the front.
So what changed? Is it the energy inside the team? The culture? The mindset?
“For me, compared to two years ago, it’s a completely different world,” says Oscar Piastri.
“The determination and hard work were always there, even back then. We knew the tools and the people were in place to get us back to the front. Even when we were being overtaken in Miami two years ago, there was still belief and drive in the team.”
Piastri points to Lando Norris’s victory last season as a key moment in McLaren’s resurgence.
“Lando’s win last year was massive. It showed that we had a car capable of winning on pure performance. Yes, there was the one-two in Monza a few years back, but Miami really marked a turning point. It proved we could be the fastest on track again.”
“McLaren is an incredible environment to be in right now. The hunger to improve hasn’t changed, and we’re definitely celebrating more often, which is great to see.”
“But we’re also aware of the challenge ahead. Leading the championship comes with its own set of restrictions, like less wind tunnel and development time. That’s something we used to our advantage when we were chasing. Now, it’s a new test for us as frontrunners. Still, it’s a fantastic position to be in.”
Clean Air Giving McLaren a Crucial F1 Edge in 2024
McLaren’s strong 2024 form isn’t just down to speed. Andrea Stella reveals how clean air and tyre control are making the difference.
This season, McLaren has taken a noticeable step forward, and one of the most important factors isn’t just raw speed, but how the car handles clean air.
Team Principal Andrea Stella recently pointed out that the MCL39’s cooling system is one of its standout features this year. But beyond that, he says running in clean air plays a critical role, especially when it comes to managing tyre temperatures during a race.
“I think it’s fair to say the tyres suffered a bit from running so close behind Max,” Stella said. “It’s hard to measure exactly how much, but once you’re leading and in clean air, you definitely gain an edge.”
He explained that while Piastri may have experienced some degradation from sitting behind Verstappen, taking the lead flipped the scenario completely.
“After Oscar got ahead, we started to see the benefits of clean air. It’s not easy to separate the impact of being stuck behind Max from the advantage of leading, but after a few laps, Oscar clearly had the upper hand and it wasn’t too hard for him to stay in front.”
Stella also touched on why Piastri’s pass on Verstappen was easier than what they saw in Jeddah earlier this season.
“In this race, Oscar didn’t need to push the tyres too hard to stay close enough and activate DRS. That made a big difference. The DRS zones here are so long that they naturally offer more overtaking opportunities.”
“We came from a track like Saudi Arabia, where it’s not too difficult to pass, but here, overtaking is about 30 to 40 percent easier if you look at the lap time delta needed to make a move. That means less stress on the tyres and a better chance to attack when it matters.”
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