McLaren ‘on the right trajectory’ despite poor start to 2023 F1 season

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has asserted that his squad is on the right path towards long-term success despite its difficult start to the 2023 Formula 1 season.

After the opening seven rounds, McLaren currently sits sixth in the Constructors’ Championship.

The Woking-based squad has scored just 17 points, while this time last year, it had tallied 59.

McLaren endured a difficult race last time out at the Spanish Grand Prix as Lando Norris picked up damage on the opening lap having qualified in third.

RelatedPosts

Sauber reveals McLaren rejected late request via text message in Austrian GP points battle

34 minutes ago

How ‘accepting help’ from McLaren boosted Lando Norris in F1 Austrian GP

2 hours ago

“We come away from Spain with a less than satisfactory result,” Stella reflected. “We were of course very happy to start the race with both cars in the top 10 after a positive qualifying session. 

“The race proved to be more difficult in terms of pace and due to Lando’s incident at Turn 1. We take the learning onboard and we go again.”

This weekend sees the Canadian Grand Prix staged – an event that McLaren has enjoyed great success at in the past.

However, while it is unlikely to be challenging near the front on this occasion, Stella says that he is confident McLaren is heading in the correct direction.

“Canada is a track that many drivers enjoy,” he said. “It’s another challenging circuit, fast-flowing but with low-speed corners and loads of braking and traction. 

“We’re on the right trajectory as a team for the long-term foundation and we know results will start to come to us once we improve the car. In the meantime, we’ll try and extract the most from the next GP in Canada.”

Despite his strong F1 career to date, Norris has not yet picked up a point finish in Montreal.

In 2019, he retired with a mechanical issue before the 2020 and 2021 events were called off due to Covid-19, while last year he crossed the line in 15th.

“I’m looking forward to getting back racing in Canada,” Norris said. “Spain was a tough race but there was a lot to take away for both me and the team including the positive of Saturday’s P3 in Quali. 

”With a week off from racing following a double-header, I’ve been back at the MTC with my engineers in preparation for this weekend. 

“Circuit Gilles-Villenueve can be challenging with its heavy-braking chicanes, but it can also be a lot of fun to race. I’m excited for it, and hopefully we can score some points.”