P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Theory that ‘something clearly’ made McLaren’s F1 car difficult to drive
A theory has been put forward to partly explain McLaren’s disappointing performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Lando Norris finished only seventh and Oscar Piastri crashed out.
The reigning world champions struggled throughout the weekend in Baku, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen securing a commanding second consecutive victory to close the gap on McLaren.
Concerns have been raised over McLaren’s unusual struggles in Azerbaijan, with Sky Sports F1 reporter Ted Kravitz questioning the impact of the circuit’s layout and windy conditions on the team’s competitiveness.
Kravitz suggested that factors like the car setup, aerodynamics, and driver handling may have contributed to McLaren’s difficulties, leading to mistakes and a lack of pace.
Analyzing the situation from the driver’s perspective, Sky Sports F1 pundit Jamie Chadwick highlighted Piastri’s uncharacteristic errors and stressed the importance of consistent point-scoring performances, especially with Verstappen closing in on the championship lead.
