With just weeks to go until the opening circular of the new Formula 1 season, McLaren has joined other groups to launch its 2023 rival. Known as the McLaren MCL60, the new car marks an ambitious new direction in engineering. However, public quotes from the team members at the launch suggested that the car would possibly not be everything the team expected.
As covered by Autosport, the reveal made a nod to McLaren’s 60th anniversary, which took place on Monday at the team’s factory in Woking, England. The MCL60 brought an ambitious new pontoon design, while wearing a livery that added more black to the team’s established racing colors blue and papaya.
The revelation caused a celebration, but also an opportunity for the team to communicate about the upcoming season. “In terms of functionality expectations, we remain realistic in the short term,” Stella said, suggesting an unexpected lack of confidence in the new car.
He expressed his considerations on the car’s existing specifications, although he noted that new advances would play a major role in performance. “There are other spaces of the car that will move through the advancements at the beginning of the season,” Stella said, adding. , “So we are satisfied, not entirely satisfied with the launch of the car, but we are sure that we will soon take a smart step. “
Stella said her position was because the team was aware that functionality had been left on the table. “There are spaces where we achieved a bit of a delay in development, solid directions,” Stella said, noting that the team expects to have serious innovations in position until the fourth race of the season.
It’s an attitude of being worried to show at the car’s launch event, suggesting that Stella would possibly be preparing her apologies for upcoming testing and racing. Usually, groups are incredibly positive at launch events. The words “realistic” and “optimistic” do not. shout precisely the religion and conviction of the new team leader. Typically, groups communicate about their upcoming update packages after a disappointing first or three races, not at the launch event.
As for the drivers, Lando Norris expressed confidence in McLaren’s long-term plans to move forward. Locate “what little patience I needed. ” He said the team hopes to fight for fourth place in the constructors’ championship, with Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and Alpine finishing 5th last year.
Meanwhile, Piastri joined the team as a rookie in F1. While McLaren hasn’t been fighting for wins lately, clinching a place in the high-performance team is an absolute blow to a rookie driver. “Calling it my first F1 car is going to be special,” Piastri said.
McLaren’s reluctance to help its new car as a potential winner is an embarrassment. At the same time, it’s possibly a hangover from the last few seasons the team has been there, but not quite. , will be revealed at the beginning of testing, and then we will know precisely what the team can expect in 2023.
Do you have any advice? Inform the author: lewin@thedrive. com
Subscribe to our newsletter
Technology and design delivered to your inbox.
© 2022 Recurring companies. All rights reserved.