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McLaren

McLaren make major decision after recent F1 experiment

Boss Andrea Stella has revealed McLaren's plans for upgrades after tests at Silverstone.

Norris Silverstone Quali
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Andrea Stella has indicated that McLaren is set to introduce a new floor to its dominant MCL39 after British GP experiments.

At Silverstone, the sole example of a new floor was tested during Free Practice 1, utilising back-to-back testing, where one driver trials the new parts to compare them to their team-mate's old specification. 

Teams can then determine if the upgrade has improved performance as intended.

McLaren opted to do this at Silverstone for its new design, owing to the Belgian GP being a sprint event with only one practice session, with limited data-gathering opportunities during the 60 minutes before the first parc ferme begins for sprint qualifying.

Reflecting on the tests, team principal Stella explained how what the team found means the championship-leading machine is set to receive a boost in the coming races. 

"With the new floor in free practice 1, the plan was always going to be that the floor was a test floor," Stella told media, including RacingNews365.

"[It is so we can get an] early read of this new specification, because the next race is a sprint event where it is more difficult to introduce a new specification, and make proper comparisons.

"We are actually pretty pleased with what we have seen in free practice 1. 

"All the indications are leading us to introduce this new floor at upcoming events."

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