McLaren Confident of Improved Performance in Las Vegas After 2024 Struggles

McLaren is not expecting a repeat of their dismal 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix performance, with team principal Andrea Stella highlighting improvements in tire behavior and a focused approach to extracting maximum car performance. Last year, both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri struggled significantly, finishing well outside the top five and grappling with severe tire graining.

Why it matters:

McLaren's poor showing in Las Vegas last season was a notable anomaly in an otherwise strong campaign. With Max Verstappen closing the gap in the drivers' standings, a strong performance in Las Vegas will be crucial for McLaren's championship aspirations, demonstrating their ability to adapt and perform on diverse track layouts.

The Details:

• 2024 Vegas Performance: McLaren experienced one of its worst weekends in Las Vegas in 2024. Norris famously commented, "It's just very difficult, super low grip. I feel like I could drive a road car quicker than we drive at the minute..."
• Qualifying Deficit: Both drivers were seven-tenths off the pace in qualifying.
• Race Struggles: They finished over 40 seconds behind winner George Russell, primarily due to severe tire graining issues.
• Tire Changes: Andrea Stella anticipates a different scenario this year, noting, "This year, the tyres, they do grain much less than last year, so it could be a slightly different Vegas from this point of view."
• Team Focus: Stella emphasized McLaren's commitment to optimizing car performance, stating, "We need to make sure that from a McLaren point of view, we are in condition to extract the full performance that is available in the car, like we have been able to do it here in Mexico." He acknowledged that this wasn't always achieved in some previous races.

The Big Picture:

Las Vegas is a critical race on the 2025 calendar, especially with Max Verstappen cutting his deficit to less than 40 points in the drivers' standings. McLaren's ability to overcome past challenges at specific circuits like Las Vegas will be a testament to their development and engineering prowess, which is vital for a consistent title challenge. Their recent dominance in races like the Mexico GP suggests they are making strides in understanding and adapting their car to various conditions.

What's next:

McLaren's performance in the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix will be a significant indicator of their championship readiness and their ability to learn from past mistakes. If they can deliver a strong result, it will bolster their confidence and solidify their position as genuine title contenders.