McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has dismissed any concerns that introducing its major upgrade package at a Sprint weekend could hinder the squad’s understanding of its new components.
McLaren is due to introduce the first major part of its 2023 upgrades in Azerbaijan at the end of the month, the first new developments since altering its design direction during the off-season.
Unlike at a normal grand prix weekend, where there are three practice sessions, Sprint events feature only one practice session before set-ups are locked in ahead of qualifying.
But Stella is confident, saying, “If there’s no anomalous behaviours, then it’s relatively easy.”
“In modern Formula 1 you have the data and you can read the aerodynamic performance through the forces that you measure and through the pressure map around the gap around the car that you measure to the dozens of pressure sensors.
The Woking-based squad have had a disconcerting start to the season as the team failed to make their own development targets.
After two pointless weekends in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, McLaren was able to pick up 12 points in Melbourne after capitalising on the issues those around them faced.
“So we are not too worried in terms of assessing whether it’s possible or not, unless there are some anomalies,” Stella said.
“But so far I have to say that the cars are proving to be correlating well with the development. That’s why we decided to introduce it, even if it’s a sprint race.”
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