McLaren’s Performance Surge in 2024: Unpacking the ‘Intangibles’ Behind the Improvement

Since the beginning of the 2024 Formula 1 season, McLaren has experienced an increase in performance that has left the team somewhat perplexed. The introduction of updates to the car in Miami revealed not only a faster car, but also a significant improvement in driver confidence. The drivers were able to extract more from the car and do so more comfortably. These gains were referred to as the “intangibles” of the update by team boss Andrea Stella. Subsequent races in Imola, Monaco, and Canada further demonstrated McLaren’s progress, especially in long-duration slow corners. However, the team is still seeking to fully understand the reasons why the car is behaving in this way. Oscar Piastri acknowledged the improvement in performance at low speeds but admitted that McLaren did not anticipate such a significant improvement. Stella emphasized the importance of fully understanding the reasons behind the car’s competitiveness in low-speed corners. While McLaren has made progress in this area, there is still more work to be done for future updates and the 2025 car. Stella chose not to disclose all the details as the team wants to maintain a competitive advantage. McLaren’s focus on development in this specific area will determine the success of their car’s performance in the future. The team’s recent results, including a win, podiums, and near-wins, demonstrate the impact of their updates. Qualifying and race results show a clear improvement in performance since the introduction of the updates. However, McLaren acknowledges that they are still not on the same level as Red Bull in terms of pure speed. They aim to consistently achieve podiums and fight for wins, but there is still work to be done to close the performance gap.