From Motorsport · Stuart Codling · · 1m
McLaren's F1 Upgrade Surprise in Brazil
McLaren's F1 upgrade delivers a pleasant surprise but may not stay on car in Brazil race.
In brief
McLaren's F1 upgrade delivers a pleasant surprise but may not stay on car in Brazil race. McLaren's F1 upgrade improves lap time and handling but may not stay on car for Brazil GP. Originally reported by Motorsport.
Practice Session Results
Lando Norris topped first practice at Sao Paulo, edging Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli by 0.082s.
“Certainly FP1 was a little bit of a surprise, a pleasant surprise.”
Car Performance Feedback
McLaren's upgrades smoothed MCL40's rough edges but drivers reported inconsistent lap times.
“FP2, I think we seemed to struggle a little bit more compared to the Mercedes, just two tenths off on every lap.”
Aerodynamic Upgrades
New front wing with reprofiled planes and middle-plane mounting improved car predictability.
“Redesigned front wing is the most noticeable element of the new upgrades.”
Driver Challenges
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri faced car consistency issues during recent races.
“Piastri, as team principal Andrea Stella has repeatedly emphasised, is a driver who thrives on building through a weekend.”
Team Strategy
McLaren tested upgrades in phases before final decision for Brazil GP.
“We'll make the final decision tonight, but all the data so far looks good.”
Performance Expectations
Upgrades aim to improve lap time and handling but may not stay on car for Brazil race.
“I think the upgrades look like they're delivering as we expected, which is all you can ask for.”
Final Decision
McLaren will confirm if all upgrades stay on car for Brazil GP after FP2 data review.
“We'll do our due diligence, check all the data from FP2 as well.”
The essence
McLaren's F1 upgrade improves lap time and handling but may not stay on car for Brazil GP.
