P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lando Norris managed to salvage some pride for McLaren at the United States Grand Prix, but as a team, the constructors’ champions failed to perform — and there’s a clear explanation for that.
Following a disappointing sprint and qualifying session at the United States Grand Prix, Lando Norris openly acknowledged the consequences of his collision with team-mate Oscar Piastri. Despite trying to maintain a positive outlook for the upcoming race, emotionally, he was feeling the opposite. McLaren lost vital data on the car’s long-run behavior, typically acquired during a sprint race. Given the bumpy nature of the Circuit of the Americas, understanding the wear on the car’s plank with heavier fuel loads is crucial. McLaren opted for a safer approach during the grand prix due to the lack of essential data, adjusting the MCL39 setup with larger safety margins, especially regarding ride height. Ride height directly affects downforce and overall performance, with lower settings enabling faster cornering but also increasing the risk of excessive plank wear.
