McLaren boss Andrea Stella has downplayed expectations surrounding McLaren’s planned upgrade package set to debut at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in late April.
Having switched development focus midway through the winter, McLaren was anticipating a tough start to the new season.
The Woking-based outfit has failed to score a point across the opening two rounds for the first time in six years, leaving it rooted to the bottom of the Constructors’ standings.
Asked about the core weakness of the MCL60 in its current state, Stella began by reiterating his words from pre-season that McLaren’s 2023 car is struggling with aerodynamic efficiency.
“In terms of weaknesses of the car, we talk about aerodynamic efficiency,” he told Autosport. “Not necessarily this means the car is draggy.
“Simply the ratio between downforce and drag is not as high as we would like. That’s the main weakness.”
Following its failure to get either car into Q3 in Bahrain, rookie driver Oscar Piastri excelled in qualifying in Saudi Arabia to haul himself into the top 10 shootout.
While damage on the opening lap would destroy both drivers’ races, Stella believes McLaren’s improved competitiveness could be attributed to the track surface.
“In a way, the reason why we are more competitive here is associated with the fact that the Tarmac is very, very grippy,” he explained.
“You rely less on aerodynamic load; you have more grip coming from the tyres.
“So these conditions kind of hide a little bit the underlying deficit from an aerodynamic point of view.”
Since the launch of its 2023 challenger, McLaren has repeatedly expressed that it aims to have a major upgrade package ready in time for the Baku weekend.
With Formula 1 embarking on a four-week break after this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, the British squad only has to tackle one more race before it hopes to be in more competitive shape.
Although Stella has suggested that the numbers from the factory look promising, he highlighted it won’t be enough to propel McLaren to its target of possessing a top-four car on the grid.
The new McLaren chief’s words arrive after Piastri stated in Bahrain the revised changes would be the first step of many to come throughout the year.
“When it comes to the Baku upgrade, we do see the numbers, which are promising,” Stella said. “It’s hopefully from sixth, it will allow us to be fifth.
“It’s not enough yet to achieve our objective for the season, which is to become a top-four car.
“This will require the Baku upgrade and we require another couple of upgrades following Baku on which we are working.”
With Aston Martin breaking out of the midfield to emerge as a podium-scoring outfit at the start of the season, McLaren is already 26 points behind Ferrari in fourth.
After tagging the barrier on his way to a first exit from Q1 since July 2019 in Saudi Arabia and finishing down in 17th place, Norris has suffered his worst start to an F1 season since he debuted in 2019.
But the British driver did excel on his first outing at this weekend’s Albert Park venue to qualify eighth, although points did evade him on race day.
Piastri, meanwhile, will be aiming to achieve his maiden points in his first home grand prix.
