P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The team did win the Qatar Sprint through Oscar Piastri, but has won only one Grand Prix since 2012.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s Team Principal, acknowledges that the performance gap between McLaren and Red Bull is considerable, indicating that McLaren has significant work ahead of them to challenge for race wins on merit. Despite recent upgrades that have propelled McLaren to the second-fastest team behind Red Bull, Stella believes that a substantial performance step is still necessary to compete at the same level. While McLaren’s results have shown improvement and they are currently in a position to fight for consistent podium finishes, Stella highlights that the performance deficit is evident, especially in qualifying where Red Bull is over half a second faster. Stella emphasizes the need for McLaren to continue working on their car’s performance in tracks with low-speed corners, bumps, and high traction demands to solidify their position as the second-best team across all circuits. The team’s focus remains on continuous improvement, reliability, and maximizing their potential at each race weekend, with the final classification to be determined after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Source: RacingNews 365
