A McLaren “Spec B” before the summer break

While we imagined ourselves at McLaren taking a big leap forward in Baku with the first expected updates, Andrea Stella explained that a B version of the MCL60 would instead come before the summer break.

Published on 30/03/2023 à 10:43

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A McLaren “Spec B” before the summer break

McLaren will have a Spec B before the summer break. © Florent Gooden / DPPI

In Bahrain, between pre-season testing (February 23-25) and the first Grand Prix (March 3-5), Andrea Stella had played fair with the press. In essence, the Italian main team explained that McLaren realized too late that it had not taken the right direction in terms of the design of its MCL60, due in particular to the late publication of the FIA's regulatory and technical adjustments linked to the increase in ride height generalized.

The Italian therefore anticipated a difficult start to the season, which was confirmed by the first two Grands Prix with no points scored, while announcing the first rays of the sun in Baku (April 28-30), where it was announced that the Big updates made would allow McLaren to get out of the rut.

In Melbourne, after announcing several changes at the head of the technical department including the departure of James Key and the arrival of David Sanchez from Ferrari, Andrea Stella and Zak Brown received the press in the Australian paddock this Thursday.

Oscar piastri et Lando Norris, always looking for points, you have to be patient. © Dutch Photo Agency / DPPI

Baku, the first step in a salvo of three updates for McLaren

And the speech, suddenly, changed. McLaren will no longer have to wait for Baku (Azerbaijan) to return to the scene but… next summer.

As stated earlier, “improving the performance of the car should start around Baku”, Stella confirmed. The update planned there will concern a part of the car that it has been obvious since the start of the season that we are not happy with.

But when it comes to development, this is only the first step. We are expecting further major developments, which will relate to more areas of the car and will be what you might call a B specification.”

Andrea Stella also announced that a third round of improvements will be expected in the second half of the season, just after the summer break. It is therefore a three-stage recovery plan: in Baku, before the summer break, and after the summer break, with the ambition however retained to be back in the top 4 at the end of the season, which honestly seems quite difficult to imagine today when we know that the 4th team on the grid in pure performance is currently… Mercedes.

But McLaren's action plan at least has the merit of being clear.

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