McLaren, another defeat against Alpine in Spa

A Belgian Grand Prix to forget for McLaren. For the first time since Canada, the British team did not score a single point at Spa-Francorchamps. Above all, she lost big against Alpine, which inflicted a 16 – 0 on the only Walloon race. 

Both cars in Woking were carjacked by a man: Alexander albon. The Thai pilot, with a Williams unloaded in the air, was simply unsurpassable at Spa. Conversely, the McLarens had opted for a setup with more support. Result: neither Daniel Ricciardo, neither Lando Norris failed to get rid of the ex-pilot Red Bull. “It was a tough race but pretty much as I expected. It wasn't easy to overtake, and I found myself stuck in a DRS train." declared Lando Norris after the race.

Daniel Ricciardo explained that his settings had handicapped him too much in the fast sections. “I knew that in the race we would probably struggle in the first and third sector with the rear wing that we were forced to use, admitted the Australian pilot. Obviously I was hoping to have enough speed in the second sector to try and do something, but we just couldn't pass with the speed we had. »

However, starting in 7th place, the native of Perth was unable to convert his good position on the grid into points. “In the clean air we definitely had a bit more speed…we lost so much time being stuck behind the cars. (...) I think there were a lot of opportunities with the mixed grid. I'm reassured that Lando's race didn't look better. Maybe we just didn't have the right package. »

McLaren hopes to return to the fight at Zandvoort

At the same time, Alpine managed to take the right strategies to find himself in front of the No. 23 Williams. The two French cars finished in 5th and 7th place, far ahead of the two orange cars. Andreas Seidl, the director of the British team, believes that his team was surprised by the weather conditions on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. “It was a difficult Sunday for us. The warmer conditions today contributed to a lack of pace which ultimately set us back during the race. Lando finished 12th and Daniel 15th. It was not possible for them to obtain a better result” confessed the German engineer.

McLaren wants to quickly focus on the next race, at Zandvoort. A short and tortuous circuit, which should better suit the characteristics of the MCL36. “We are going to continue to work hard, to push, to look at everything in the coming days. We will try to get back into the fight against the Alpine in Zandvoort », retorted Lando Norris. With 20 points behind the championship on the team ofenstone, the objective will above all be not to be knocked out for 4th place in the constructor's championship.

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