P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren must investigate whether F1 upgrades have introduced bad handling traits
In the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lando Norris had a chance to take pole position from Max Verstappen, but a slide in the final sector on his final flying lap hindered his performance. As a result, Norris had to rely on his earlier lap, which placed him in fifth. Meanwhile, his rookie teammate Oscar Piastri managed to secure third place on the grid. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella has expressed concern over the handling of their car and whether recent upgrades have introduced unfavorable traits. McLaren has struggled in the second sector against Red Bull, particularly in low-speed corners and long straights. The team acknowledges that low-speed handling is a weakness, but Stella also attributes their performance to the rear wing set-up, which does not optimize the use of DRS. The team will review data and information to understand what improvements need to be made.
