Method 1 is having fun with an unprecedentedly shut season wherein any one in every of 4 groups can dominate on any given weekend – a blended blessing, based on McLaren workforce principal Andrea Stella.
Mercedes received the Las Vegas Grand Prix by way of George Russell, who managed the race from pole place whereas teammate Lewis Hamilton climbed by way of from tenth on the grid to complete second. That consequence means 4 F1 constructors have scored a one-two end in the identical season for the primary time within the sport’s historical past, and Stella says that helped McLaren in Las Vegas, however might damage it within the ultimate two rounds.
“It’s disappointing that we misplaced 12 factors within the championship,” Stella mentioned. “However on the identical time, contemplating how a lot we struggled this weekend, we actually need to thank Mercedes for having carried out so strongly and secured the P1-P2 place. In any other case Ferrari would have been an excellent greater menace within the constructors’ championship.
“It’s true – and I’ve mentioned myself – that Qatar and Abu Dhabi ought to be territory that’s extra appropriate for the best way we now have designed our automobile. However on the identical time, I believe we must be cautious. The extent of the highest groups in Method 1 in 2024, in my opinion, is unprecedented.
“I actually can’t keep in mind a season in Method 1 the place 4 groups have been working at such a excessive stage. Not solely as a result of they’re in situation to win, however they’re in situation to dominate like Mercedes did [in Las Vegas] with faultless weekends. This implies for me, this implies for the workforce, that sure, we go to Qatar pondering that the automobile could carry out effectively, but when we expect that that is a straightforward trip, we can be hit by the truth.
“So we go there understanding that we have to maximize the potential of the automobile. If we try this, then definitely from a monitor format perspective, the automobile ought to spend numerous time the place it’s been designed to carry out.
“However to be sincere, I can’t not acknowledge that I’d count on Ferrari, definitely even Purple Bull, Mercedes – I believe they are going to have gotten numerous data from this weekend as effectively – to be in situation to win in Qatar. So it’s a really attention-grabbing, far more than I’d have appreciated, ultimate a part of the season. I at all times attempt to get issues to be boring, however that’s not the case!”
Though Max Verstappen secured the drivers’ championship in Las Vegas, Stella additionally says that received’t dampen the positivity inside McLaren after the workforce developed a automobile able to competing for each titles.
“I don’t suppose there’s a disappointment,” he mentioned. “I’ve mentioned how proud we’re that finally Lando [Norris] was the one driver that would give Max some headache and that since (the time) when McLaren gave Lando and Oscar [Piastri] materials that may win races, Lando stored the identical trajectory as Max.
“So I believe there’s many extra causes to be proud and to be glad and to be inspired for the longer term than disappointment. We go into the longer term with optimism and with a optimistic feeling.”
McLaren can win the constructors’ championship at this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix if it outscores Ferrari by 21 factors and doesn’t lose greater than 14 factors to Purple Bull.
