P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren is hoping to get its hands on the F1 drivers’ championship trophy this year following its constructors’ success last year.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella emphasized the need for a competitive car to contend for the drivers’ title this season, as the MCL39 was launched with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri conducting a shakedown at Silverstone. Despite McLaren being the reigning constructors’ champions, Max Verstappen clinched the drivers’ title last year, leaving Norris in second place. Stella highlighted the importance of being competitive from the start, recalling that McLaren’s deficit to Max was mostly accumulated early in the season. He praised Norris’s growth throughout the season, stating that the British driver is now prepared to challenge for the championship with an aggressive racing approach. Stella commended Norris’s ability to learn quickly and adapt during races, indicating that he has the potential to become a world champion.
