Method 1 is having fun with an unprecedentedly shut season during which any one in all 4 groups can dominate on any given weekend – a combined blessing, in response to McLaren workforce principal Andrea Stella.
Mercedes gained the Las Vegas Grand Prix by way of George Russell, who managed the race from pole place whereas teammate Lewis Hamilton climbed by way of from tenth on the grid to complete second. That consequence means 4 F1 constructors have scored a one-two end in the identical season for the primary time within the sport’s historical past, and Stella says that helped McLaren in Las Vegas, however may damage it within the closing two rounds.
“It’s disappointing that we misplaced 12 factors within the championship,” Stella stated. “However on the similar time, contemplating how a lot we struggled this weekend, we actually need to thank Mercedes for having carried out so strongly and secured the P1-P2 place. In any other case Ferrari would have been an excellent larger risk within the constructors’ championship.
“It’s true – and I’ve stated myself – that Qatar and Abu Dhabi needs to be territory that’s extra appropriate for the best way we now have designed our automobile. However on the similar time, I feel we should be cautious. The extent of the highest groups in Method 1 in 2024, in my opinion, is unprecedented.
“I actually can’t bear in mind a season in Method 1 the place 4 groups had been working at such a excessive degree. Not solely as a result of they’re in situation to win, however they’re in situation to dominate like Mercedes did [in Las Vegas] with faultless weekends. This implies for me, this implies for the workforce, that sure, we go to Qatar pondering that the automobile could carry out nicely, but when we predict that that is a straightforward experience, we might be hit by the fact.
“So we go there realizing that we have to maximize the potential of the automobile. If we do this, then definitely from a observe format standpoint, the automobile ought to spend numerous time the place it’s been designed to carry out.
“However to be trustworthy, I can’t not acknowledge that I might count on Ferrari, definitely even Pink Bull, Mercedes – I feel they’ll have gotten numerous info from this weekend as nicely – to be in situation to win in Qatar. So it’s a really attention-grabbing, rather more than I might have favored, closing a part of the season. I at all times attempt to get issues to be boring, however that’s not the case!”
Though Max Verstappen secured the drivers’ championship in Las Vegas, Stella additionally says that gained’t dampen the positivity inside McLaren after the workforce developed a automobile able to competing for each titles.
“I don’t suppose there’s a disappointment,” he stated. “I’ve stated how proud we’re that in the end Lando [Norris] was the one driver that might give Max some headache and that since (the time) when McLaren gave Lando and Oscar [Piastri] materials that may win races, Lando saved the identical trajectory as Max.
“So I feel there’s many extra causes to be proud and to be joyful and to be inspired for the long run than disappointment. We go into the long run with optimism and with a optimistic feeling.”
McLaren can win the constructors’ championship at this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix if it outscores Ferrari by 21 factors and doesn’t lose greater than 14 factors to Pink Bull.
