P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren targets "race six or seven" for first major 2024 F1 upgrade
McLaren has shown significant improvement in the 2024 season compared to a year ago, being in the fight with Mercedes for the status of third-fastest team behind Red Bull and Ferrari, especially in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Despite this progress, a Ferrari resurgence has kept McLaren from achieving podium success like in late 2023, highlighting some lingering weaknesses in low-speed handling and top speed. Team boss Andrea Stella has announced plans for a major upgrade around race six or seven, with smaller tweaks expected for earlier races. Stella emphasized the need for further understanding of the MCL38 to unlock its full potential, with upcoming races such as the Japanese Grand Prix crucial for assessing performance. While McLaren excels in certain types of corners, like fast flowing sections, there’s room for improvement in sustained cornering and top speed to truly challenge the competition.
