McLaren explain key upgrade advantage over F1 rivals

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has detailed how his squad has been able to hold a consistent advantage towards the front of the F1 field this season.

McLaren has been a front-runner for much of the campaign, with an upgrade in Miami raising it to race-winning form.

The Woking-based squad now sit just eight points behind Red Bull in the constructors' championship, while Lando Norris is 62 points back on Max Verstappen in the drivers' standings.

Red Bull has been one of several teams this year that has taken a backward step throughout the season with the direction of its car.

Stella explained McLaren has taken extra care not to rush new parts onto the car until it is confident it will not present unforeseen complications.

“We haven’t brought a significant upgrade since Miami,” Stella told media including RacingNews365. 

“The next relevant upgrade, not as big as Miami, was in Zandvoort, and it didn’t involve the floor – it was just a detail. It was some other areas of the car.

“But there’s a reason why we haven’t brought some upgrades. We see that, had we pressed the go button, we might have had some doubts when these parts were tested full-scale on the real car.

“So we are taking our time to convince ourselves that the development is mature to be taken trackside.”

Stella details importance of F1 wind tunnel

McLaren recently completed construction of its own wind tunnel from its Woking factory, adding another important tool to its hunt for an F1 title. Previously, it had utilised Toyota's wind tunnel in Cologne.

Stella highlighted setting up its own facility is a vital tool in ensuring it competes at a high level due to the complexity of the current cars.

“I think in terms of the wind tunnel, it does help the fact that we can lean on a new wind tunnel to the latest technology because we are dealing with complex aerodynamics,” he said.

“I think the evolution of these cars has led to some challenging flow physics, and I think that's where other teams, including McLaren, is struggling to easily generate developments.”