McLaren 'Suffering' in Singapore Due to Specific Track Conditions, Says Stella

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has explained why Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have so far 'suffered' around the streets of Singapore, identifying a recurring pattern in their car's performance.

Why it matters:

McLaren entered the Singapore Grand Prix weekend with high expectations, particularly after Lando Norris secured pole position and victory here last year. However, their performance has been notably underwhelming, placing them behind Mercedes and Red Bull. Understanding this pattern is crucial for McLaren's development strategy and their ambition to consistently challenge for wins.

The details:

• McLaren's struggles at Marina Bay contrast sharply with expectations, as they were anticipated to be frontrunners after recent strong performances.
• Oscar Piastri qualified third, a third of a second behind pole-sitter George Russell (Mercedes), while Lando Norris qualified fifth, over four-tenths back.
• Identified Pattern: Andrea Stella highlighted a consistent issue observed in specific track conditions.
  • Tracks featuring braking with bumps and kerbs — such as Canada, Baku, and now Singapore — consistently show McLaren's car is not optimal.
  • Stella stated, "When we have braking with bumps and kerbs, in Canada, we were not the best car, in Baku, we were not the best car, and in Singapore, we are not the best car."
• Technical Insights: Stella acknowledged this isn't entirely a surprise from a technical standpoint, as the team understands the conditions under which their car is developed.
  • The car tends to gain time in mid-corner, but circuits like Singapore are dominated by braking and traction.
  • The bumps and kerbs on these circuits amplify the car's weaknesses.
• Competitor Performance: Both Mercedes and Max Verstappen's Red Bull demonstrated superior competitiveness, particularly in putting together strong sectors during qualifying.
• Driver Feedback: Driver comments from Piastri and Norris mirrored those made in Baku and Canada, further validating the observed pattern.

What's next:

This identified pattern provides McLaren with critical information for future car development. Addressing these specific weaknesses related to braking, bumps, and kerbs will be paramount if they want to improve their performance on a wider variety of circuits. The team will need to integrate these conditions into their development process to ensure a more versatile and competitive car going forward, aiming to eliminate these recurring 'suffering' points from their race weekends.