Lando Norris, British driver for McLaren, showcased his skills at the Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella explained how the updates made to the team’s car, the MCL38, played a crucial role in Norris’ victory. Prior to the race, McLaren unveiled a significant upgrade package for the car, including improvements to the front wing, suspension, sidepod inlet, engine cover, and rear suspension. Stella expressed optimism about the upgrades, but also tempered expectations, noting that the team’s full potential may not be realized immediately.
Despite this caution, Norris demonstrated impressive speed from the start of the race weekend. He topped the time sheets in the first two qualifying sessions, showcasing the capabilities of the car. However, a slip-up in the battle for pole position due to tire temperature issues meant Norris did not start at the front of the grid.
Starting in fifth place, Norris faced challenges early on as he dropped to sixth on the first lap. Turbulence during the race made it difficult for him to attack Sergio Perez, who had fallen behind the leading group of drivers. However, Norris’ opportunity to shine came when the top five drivers made pit stops, allowing him to unleash the hidden potential of his car.
The McLaren driver delivered laps faster than his opponents on newer tires could keep up with, with Max Verstappen describing this pace as unreachable.
Although initially expected to stay out of the top three positions, Norris put himself back in contention for the final stages of the race with the use of newer Hard tires.
However, this became irrelevant when a Safety Car was deployed on lap 29 due to a collision between Kevin Magnussen and Logan Sargeant at Turn 3, presenting Norris with a fantastic opportunity.
McLaren called Norris into the pits, resulting in minimal time loss compared to his competitors, allowing him to maintain his first place position until the end of the race.
Verstappen was dealing with floor damage caused by hitting a pillar at Turn 14, but Norris showed that the McLaren MCL38 was the fastest car in race trim.
So, what made Stella cautious about McLaren’s potential in Miami, despite recognizing the improvements made by the team?
Well, McLaren has consistently struggled with lack of speed in slow corners for several seasons, which continued to be a recurring challenge at the start of this campaign.
Combined with the vulnerability of the MCL38 in straight-line speed due to excessive drag, McLaren had reasons to believe that the second sector would be particularly challenging.
However, signs during FP1 suggested that McLaren had improved its top speed compared to usual, with Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri recording competitive speeds in speed traps.
Unfortunately, both drivers dropped in the rankings once parc fermé was closed for the second time before the Grand Prix qualifying, indicating that McLaren had increased its aerodynamic load.
Despite this, McLaren still opted for a rear wing configuration with less load, a decision made possible by the overall improvements in the car’s aerodynamics.
Stella explained after the race that these upgrades had created a more efficient aerodynamic platform, reducing the reliance on the rear wing to generate downforce.
“Yes, we were relatively competitive in a section that features a long straight followed by a low-speed segment,” explained the Italian. “We had good top speed here.
“One of the reasons is that we intentionally chose to use a relatively light rear wing. But we were able to do this because we added downforce through other means.
“And that allowed us to rely less on the rear wing, which is not always the most efficient solution.
“When you upgrade the car with improvements to the floor and sides, it is always more efficient than relying solely on the rear wing to generate downforce, if that makes sense.”
Stella also admitted that McLaren made specific setup choices to ensure competitive performance in low-speed sections.
“At the same time, we consciously decided to set up the car to maximize performance in low-speed corners,” he added.
“So, the impressive performance we had at lower speeds is not just due to the characteristics of the package. It is also the result of deliberate decisions made in the car setup to maximize our strength in low-speed situations. In fact, during yesterday’s qualifying session, we lost a significant amount of time in high-speed sections, but that was a deliberate choice in our setup.”
If McLaren’s competitiveness continues in the upcoming tracks, their latest substantial upgrade package could prove to be a game-changer. Stella warned that McLaren still needs to take another step to consistently challenge Red Bull, as the damage suffered by Verstappen alone cost him 0.25 seconds at Turn 1. McLaren will get more confirmation of their upgrades at the next Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, a track where Norris has secured two podiums in the past.
However, McLaren will also be on equal footing with Red Bull and Ferrari, as the two main teams in the championship also implement their own developments. Norris had previously mentioned that, although the upgrades are working as expected, the current track may not fully show its potential. He hopes that on a track like Imola, they will be able to see more of what the car is capable of. Overall, the team sees this as a positive step in the right direction and recognizes the hard work of the entire team.
Norris added that it is important not to judge the car based on a single session or a single track. It needs to be evaluated in various conditions, including high aerodynamic load settings and low aerodynamic load settings. People are too quick to make judgments based on a single weekend or race day. However, McLaren has consistently made tangible progress whenever they introduce new parts, approaching their past successes.
Shocking Events in the World of Sports
In the world of sports, we are often surprised by exciting and unexpected events. And this year was no different. From doping scandals to surprising victories, sports fans have been kept on the edge of their seats. Here are some of the most shocking moments that rocked the world of sports in 2024.
Athletics Doping Scandal
One of the most shocking events of the year was the doping scandal in athletics. Several renowned athletes were caught using banned substances to enhance their performance. This shook the credibility of the sport and raised questions about the integrity of elite athletes.
Surprising Victory in Football
In the world of football, a surprising victory shocked fans. A team considered an underdog managed to win the championship against all odds. This unexpected victory inspired many to believe that anything is possible in the world of sports.
Basketball Corruption Scandal
Another shocking event was the basketball corruption scandal. Several sports officials were accused of bribery and match-fixing. This shook the confidence of fans and called into question the integrity of the sport.
Serious Injury in Tennis
In the world of tennis, a serious injury shocked spectators. A renowned player suffered an injury that kept him off the courts for months. This injury impacted his career and left fans worried about his future in the sport.
These are just some of the shocking moments that have rocked the world of sports in 2024. With unpredictable and thrilling events happening every year, we never know what to expect. Fans continue to closely follow their favorite sports, hoping for more exciting and unexpected moments.
