McLaren Slips into Crisis at US Grand Prix

The F1 pecking order in Texas has definitively shifted, leaving McLaren in a worrying state. While Max Verstappen delivered a flawless pole lap in his Red Bull, Lando Norris struggled to secure second place, revealing a growing crisis within the Woking-based team.

Why it matters:

McLaren, once seen as a serious challenger, is grappling with a significant performance dip at a critical juncture in the season. Their struggles at the US Grand Prix highlight the volatile nature of F1 development and the constant battle to maintain a competitive edge. This shift in momentum could have serious implications for their championship ambitions, particularly as Red Bull appears to have found another gear.

The Details:

• Performance Gap Widens: On Friday, McLaren was just a tenth of a second off Verstappen's best time. By Saturday's qualifying, Norris was three-tenths behind, even with Verstappen unable to complete his final Q3 lap.
• Norris's Frustration: Lando Norris admitted, "It was just a bigger struggle today. I don't know if everyone improved or the wind hurt us, but every lap was a struggle." He also conceded that his second-place finish looked better than it was, stating, "If Max had done his last lap, he probably would have been significantly faster. Honestly, that doesn't give me much hope."
• Impact of Sprint Crash: Team Principal Andrea Stella revealed that the costly double DNF in the Sprint race deprived McLaren of crucial setup data. "A millimeter in ride height means several milliseconds on this bumpy track. After the crash, we lacked exactly that data," Stella explained.
• Red Bull's Resurgence: Stella acknowledged, "This can explain a few tenths, but not everything. We have to accept that Red Bull currently has the fastest car again." He suspects Red Bull's critical gain came from an underfloor update introduced at Monza.
  • Stella added, "You hear from the drivers that they feel more comfortable in the car—apparently, they've found something aerodynamically." He concluded with a sobering thought for Piastri and Norris: "We have to be prepared for Max and Red Bull possibly setting the benchmark in every remaining race."

Between the lines:

Oscar Piastri's performance was notably weaker, finishing sixth with almost a six-tenths deficit to Verstappen. Piastri stated, "The car was a bit unpredictable. I never felt truly comfortable at any point. That was the biggest problem."

Stella's response was telling, as he felt compelled to offer an additional explanation, indirectly criticizing his key driver: "He wasn't complaining about the car as such. It just took him a bit longer to find his rhythm."

Red Bull's chief advisor, Helmut Marko, observed with a smirk, "Piastri seems to be unsettled by the situation right now." Sky expert Timo Glock echoed this, suggesting it might be "too much mental pressure going on right now." While Verstappen effortlessly shifts into 'T-Rex mode,' McLaren finds itself in its first genuine crisis in months, precisely when the championship stakes are highest.

What's next:

McLaren faces an uphill battle to regain its competitive footing. The team needs to quickly understand and address the fundamental issues impacting their car's performance and driver confidence. With Red Bull seemingly having made another step forward, McLaren's ability to respond in the remaining races will define their season. The focus will be on damage limitation and rediscovering the setup that allowed them to challenge earlier in the season.