McLaren is preparing to introduce a new floor upgrade in the coming races after promising early data gathered during FP1 at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix.
Despite victories for Mercedes in Canada and Red Bull at Imola and Japan, McLaren has maintained a commanding 238-point lead in the Constructors’ Championship.
Championship leader Oscar Piastri and team-mate Norris are separated by eight points, with the Australian driver holding a comfortable 69-point gap over Max Verstappen in third.
Yet McLaren is planning to build on its performance this season, as revealed by Team Principal Andrea Stella.
Stella disclosed that a revised floor upgrade was on its way, after an initial trial at Silverstone designed to provide valuable insights ahead of upcoming Sprint events where upgrades are harder to implement.
Encouraged by the results, McLaren is set to boost its championship-leading car’s performance with the new specification soon.
“With the new floor in FP1, the plan was always going to be that the floor was a test floor,” Stella told media including Motorsport Week.
“[It is so we can get an] early read of this new specification, because the next race is a Sprint event where it is more difficult to introduce a new specification, and make proper comparisons.
“We are actually pretty pleased with what we have seen in FP1. All the indications are leading us to introduce this new floor at upcoming events.”
The latest developments introduced to the MCL39 have been focused on helping Norris find comfort with the car to address his qualifying woes this season.
The Briton took the revised update introduced at the Red Bull Ring, Piastri sticking with the older spec version from Canada.
McLaren not easing off despite sizeable points lead
Despite holding a substantial points lead in both standings, McLaren is refusing to let complacency creep in as the F1 season heads into the second half.
Stella underlined that while the team’s recent form has been exceptional, success in this sport is never guaranteed.
“The performance we saw in Canada, that as soon as you drop the ball, you don’t win anymore,” Stella said at a McLaren live event in London earlier this month.
“So winning is not given for granted. Winning is something that you have to earn. You have to earn it in terms of preparation, you have to earn it on the ground.”
When asked how McLaren will approach the remaining rounds with a potential championship double on the line, the 54-year-old made it clear that the team’s strategy will remain the same.
“Well, the next strategy is to keep doing what we are doing,” he explained. “Which is not only in terms of trying to achieve the same results but also have the same determination we need to maximise the potential of what’s available.
“The mission for the second part of the season is to go try and do our best to try to maximise our potential and keep winning races, keep giving our fans plenty of emotions.”
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