Former Formula 1 driver Anthony Davidson explained that McLaren “showed a lot of weaknesses” in 2024, despite winning the constructors’ championship.
The former BAR and Super Aguri driver added while the team became “more polished” as the season went on, their rapid rise to the top meant it appeared they almost “couldn’t believe their luck” in fighting Red Bull at times.
While praising what McLaren had achieved in improving through the season, Davidson pointed out the team, along with Lando Norris, learned lessons they will be able to take with them into the 2025 campaign.
After taking on world champions Verstappen and Red Bull, the Sky F1 expert explained that McLaren is “exposed” in the name fight and expects the team to continue its innovations from 2024 until next season.
When asked what Norris would have learned from Verstappen this year, Davidson responded in Sky F1’s end-of-season review: “I think it’s more what the whole team has learned and obviously Lando is a component of this team. and it’s helping. ” lead your performance.
“And I felt like this year there were moments where McLaren was just excited to be at the forefront, excited and almost unlucky, almost, to be able to play bucket with Red Bull, and they were exposed. “
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“They showed a lot of weaknesses. They showed holes in their system, and Lando showed holes in his race car, and we caught it at the time.
“But for my part it’s fantastic to see them grow and become more difficult, faster and more polished as the season went on, and I hope they can continue that momentum next year, because this will be a total season of this type of entertainment.
McLaren’s constructors are naming teams for the first time since 1998, with Sky commentator Martin Brundle explaining how his rise from the back of the pack in early 2023 to name winners at the end of 2024 is proof of how whose times might change. in Formula 1.
While acknowledging there was still room for improvement, he believes there is “great momentum” for the team heading into next year.
“They had a glorious season,” Brundle said.
“They were last at the beginning of 2023, last in the championship, they evolved their car.
“They’ve got a really cohesive team, and it just shows you what can be done – and they improved everything that they did.
“I mean, they missed some in 2024, there’s no doubt about that.
“Silverstone stands out in that respect as a race they should have won, but I think they go forward with great momentum.”
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