McLaren held back on upgrades in the first half of the season – now the team wants to attack in Formula 1
McLaren saved on upgrades to its car in the first half of the 2024 season, but now the team wants to attack again in Formula 1. In the first 14 races, the racing team deliberately refrained from coming up with new features at every race, but in the second half of the year, the pace is to be increased
There are clear and strict rules on when and how the teams are allowed to use the wind tunnels, and the computer simulations of the currents are also limited. The worse a team performed in the previous year, the more time it is given in the first half of the season to improve its aerodynamics.
From January 30, the current rankings from 2024 will then be used to set the times for the teams. McLaren introduced a major upgrade in Miami, after which there were only track-specific improvements and minor upgrades to the car. The team will only introduce major improvements later in the season
Only one upgrade in the first half of the season
With the times for aerodynamic development now clear, the team can focus on both the upgrades for 2024 and the car for 2025. Previously, the team brought a new front wing to Miami, while the rear wings for Imola and Monaco, as well as Silverstone and Spa, were parts developed for the level of downforce required at each track.
According to Team Principal Andrea Stella, Red Bull has invested significantly more in parts than McLaren. “I can only speak for McLaren and we will now reap some of the rewards of the developments,” said the Italian. “I expect to see some new parts in the second half of the season.” McLaren now has 256 wind tunnel units at its disposal during the test periods. In addition, the racing team is allowed to use wind speeds of more than 15 meters per second for 64 hours.
320 hours can be tested in the tunnel, plus 1,600 geometry simulations that can be tried out on the computer. McLaren was allowed to spend more time on aerodynamics at the beginning of the year because the team finished fourth in the constructors’ championship in 2023. In August 2024, the racing team is in second place
Red Bull gets the least time
Red Bull has 224 free wind tunnel units, is allowed to use wind speeds of more than 15 meters per second for 56 hours and receives 280 hours in the wind tunnel and 1,400 simulations on the computer. “It’s amazing that we were so competitive as we haven’t made any real improvements to the track since Miami,” says Stella.
“That shows how big the Miami upgrade was,” explains the team boss. “There will be more upgrades in the second half of the season.” It remains to be seen what McLaren will be able to achieve in the 2024 season. The team is 42 points behind Red Bull ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix
