Method 1 is having fun with an unprecedentedly shut season through which any one in all 4 groups can dominate on any given weekend – a combined blessing, in line with McLaren group principal Andrea Stella.
Mercedes received the Las Vegas Grand Prix by means of George Russell, who managed the race from pole place whereas teammate Lewis Hamilton climbed by means of from tenth on the grid to complete second. That outcome means 4 F1 constructors have scored a one-two end in the identical season for the primary time within the sport’s historical past, and Stella says that helped McLaren in Las Vegas, however might damage it within the last two rounds.
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“It’s disappointing that we misplaced 12 factors within the championship,” Stella mentioned. “However on the identical time, contemplating how a lot we struggled this weekend, we actually need to thank Mercedes for having carried out so strongly and secured the P1-P2 place. In any other case Ferrari would have been a good greater menace within the constructors’ championship.
“It’s true – and I’ve mentioned myself – that Qatar and Abu Dhabi ought to be territory that’s extra appropriate for the way in which we’ve got designed our automobile. However on the identical time, I believe we should be cautious. The extent of the highest groups in Method 1 in 2024, for my part, is unprecedented.
“I actually can’t keep in mind a season in Method 1 the place 4 groups have been working at such a excessive stage. Not solely as a result of they’re in situation to win, however they’re in situation to dominate like Mercedes did [in Las Vegas] with faultless weekends. This implies for me, this implies for the group, that sure, we go to Qatar pondering that the automobile could carry out nicely, but when we predict that that is a simple experience, we can be hit by the truth.
“So we go there realizing that we have to maximize the potential of the automobile. If we try this, then actually from a monitor format viewpoint, the automobile ought to spend various time the place it’s been designed to carry out.
“However to be sincere, I can’t not acknowledge that I’d count on Ferrari, actually even Purple Bull, Mercedes – I believe they are going to have gotten various info from this weekend as nicely – to be in situation to win in Qatar. So it’s a really fascinating, far more than I’d have appreciated, last a part of the season. I all the time attempt to get issues to be boring, however that’s not the case!”
Though Max Verstappen secured the drivers’ championship in Las Vegas, Stella additionally says that received’t dampen the positivity inside McLaren after the group developed a automobile able to competing for each titles.
“I don’t assume there’s a disappointment,” he mentioned. “I’ve mentioned how proud we’re that finally Lando [Norris] was the one driver that might give Max some headache and that since (the time) when McLaren gave Lando and Oscar [Piastri] materials that may win races, Lando saved the identical trajectory as Max.
“So I believe there’s many extra causes to be proud and to be completely happy and to be inspired for the longer term than disappointment. We go into the longer term with optimism and with a constructive feeling.”
McLaren can win the constructors’ championship at this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix if it outscores Ferrari by 21 factors and doesn’t lose greater than 14 factors to Purple Bull.
