Reigning world champions McLaren anticipate to begin the brand new season taking part in “catch-up” based mostly on what they noticed in pre-season testing.
Staff principal Andrea Stella expects the identical 4 groups as final yr will head the sector. McLaren received 14 of final yr’s 24 rounds on their method to one of the vital dominant constructors’ championship victories in years, however Stella suspects they received’t be the crew to beat in subsequent week’s season-opening race in Melbourne.
“For our half, we’re proud of what we have now seen in our automotive, however we’re equally conscious that a few of our principal opponents – it’s not coincidence that every one three are works groups – have performed a wonderful job,” he stated. “We have to work onerous to catch up and develop the automotive as rapidly as potential.
“As soon as the playing cards are on the desk, improvement will change into the foremost problem. To make use of a soccer metaphor, the primary a part of the season will see us taking part in a bit defensively, attempting to use the counterattack.”
He believes Mercedes – McLaren’s energy unit provider – and Ferrari have the higher hand over the sector in the intervening time.
“With all of the unknowns concerned – in testing there are parameters that aren’t totally identified, reminiscent of the quantity of gas on board or, notably from this yr, the best way wherein the accessible vitality is used – I really feel I can affirm what I stated in Bahrain: the ‘ordinary suspects’ – strictly, in alphabetical order: Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Crimson Bull – are a step forward of the competitors,” he stated. “Inside this main group, we consider that Ferrari and Mercedes are a step forward, though it’s troublesome to quantify how massive the hole is. We’ll discover out beginning subsequent week in Melbourne.”
McLaren will solely convey minor refinements to its MCL40 for the opening spherical, Stella confirmed.
“It can basically be the identical,” he stated. “We can have launched some minor aerodynamic updates and can proceed to work on essential features, reminiscent of the load of the automotive – it is a somewhat important issue not solely in absolute phrases but additionally as a result of going beneath the minimal weight will permit us to work on weight distribution. One other key issue is the exploitation of the ability unit.”
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