McLaren F1’s CEO has shared his predictions for the upcoming 2024 Formula 1 season and how it could unfold. Last year, the team faced challenges at the start of the season but worked tirelessly to regain their position at the top. However, according to Brown, the progress they make this year will heavily rely on the performance of Red Bull’s chief designer during the winter break.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Brown believes that determining the championship winner will greatly depend on the development of other teams during the winter break, particularly Red Bull. While Brown is typically optimistic about his team, he also acknowledges the possibility that Red Bull’s progress may be too significant for others to catch up with.
The dominance of Red Bull’s RB19 was evident as it won 21 out of the 22 Grand Prix races held throughout the season. However, Brown believes that the overall competitiveness of the grid increased last year due to the implementation of a cost cap. The 2023 season witnessed a four-way battle among teams for the second-best position, with McLaren ultimately making a strong comeback and reclaiming a leading position by the end of the year.
McLaren’s resurgence in the latter half of the 2023 season was highly appreciated by motorsport enthusiasts who were eager to see the team back at the top. However, the season did not start off on a positive note in Bahrain. McLaren faced a DNF (Did Not Finish) for Oscar Piastri due to a mechanical issue, while Lando Norris had to make five pit stops due to a pneumatic pressure leak in his car, resulting in a disappointing Grand Prix for the entire team. However, after the Austrian Grand Prix, the team’s fortunes began to change, and they were able to compete for points based on their raw pace.
Following the introduction of new specifications for both cars, the driver pair achieved seven podium finishes, and Oscar Piastri secured a victory in the sprint race in Qatar. McLaren managed to salvage the season by implementing crucial changes to the car mid-season and aims to carry this momentum into the upcoming season.