Launching a much-revised MCL36 in Singapore, McLaren technical director James Key said it was just the “first step towards a new concept”.
Introducing new logo cars this season, with Formula 1 revising the technical regulations, McLaren found itself at the start of the season when ongoing brake problems required resources to expand the car.
Once they figured that out, the team set out for functionality with the latest batch of updates that made their debut on the Singapore Grand Prix weekend in Lando Norris’ car.
With new pontoons, a floor body, fences and a diffuser, Key it a “new concept”.
“It’s been an ongoing process,” he told The Race, “we’ve had some concept paintings to do the year.
“In fact, this is a logical step. Follow what we did at Update France [McLaren’s latest major update package].
“But there are also conceptual changes, which are different. This is the first step towards a new concept.
The specific pontoons are others from the previous edition with Key revealing that there are other updates that can be seen as well.
“Given the differences in the front, they have an effect on the sides of the floor, they have an effect on the bottom of the floor.
“You can’t see it, however, there are many major points starting to expand now.
“A lot of surfaces and things that don’t seem logical when you just think about the genuine basics of a ground effect, however, make a difference.
“The elements you can’t see are some of the most effective parts. “
See also the new helmet!# Singapore GP #F1 pic. twitter. com/FE9SJ4GQAP
– Formula 1 (@F1) September 30, 2022
Admitting that McLaren would have “done some things knowing what we know now”, the Woking team hopes that what they put on track today is a step in the right direction for next season.
“You can see some of the philosophies that exist, there’s still a lot of differences between the frame and things, even the edges of the floor,” Key added.
“We were lucky to have the freedom to see that this was too locked up.
“That said, this package has some mechanical adjustments under the skin to allow some bureaucracy to grow. So, we weren’t locked in, but we had to make adjustments to this one, especially in relation to where we were.
McLaren is battling with Alpine for fourth place in the constructors’ championship, 18 rivals with six races to go.
Read more: Daniel Ricciardo ‘at peace’ with options for 2023, but possibly ‘start foaming at the mouth’