McLaren is currently ranked third among the fastest teams in the 2024 F1 grid. The team had a somewhat disappointing performance at Suzuka as they were unable to meet their expectations. Although McLaren performed exceptionally well in qualifying, during the race, their MCL38 car was no match for Ferrari’s SF-24. The team principal of McLaren believes that 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 strong performances. Despite McLaren’s better qualifying, they faced difficulties with hard compounds during the race, resulting in a drop in their position on the chart. 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 update package in Miami, but it is unlikely to be sufficient to bridge the gap. The team’s main weakness in terms of pace was exposed during the race at Suzuka. The initial package update will help improve their pace, and Stella is trying to maintain a positive outlook.
As mentioned earlier, McLaren will receive their first update package for the MCL38 in Miami, and the team principal believes that this is when the team will start to flourish. However, before that, they will face an obstacle in the form of the Chinese GP. Unlike the Suzuka International Racing circuit, 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 at the next race. With the upcoming developments, Stella believes that the MCL38 will be able to adapt better to any track, alleviating concerns about circuit layouts.
In the first four races, McLaren has scored twice as many points as Mercedes. The upcoming development plan will help them maintain their position in the 2024 constructors’ championship.