McLaren’s Recent Formula 1 Success
McLaren’s achievements in Formula 1 over the last two years have largely stemmed from the team’s effective in-season car development, particularly highlighted by their turnaround at the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix.
The team had pinpointed various aerodynamic shortcomings in the MCL60 before the season began, leading to a reorganization of their technical staff and an extensive development plan aimed at revitalizing the team’s performance.
After a significant upgrade for the 2023 race at the Red Bull Ring, McLaren transitioned from sporadic points finishes to regularly standing on the podium. Although the base for the 2024 model (MCL38) started stronger, a Miami floor upgrade ultimately put them on track for a constructors’ championship victory.
Continuing this momentum, the MCL39 has dominated in 2025, leaving competitors struggling to keep up. McLaren is recognized for its exemplary correlation processes, ensuring that each update seamlessly integrates with their existing packages to boost performance. Team Principal Andrea Stella attributes this success to mastering the “fundamentals” behind each upgrade.
“There isn’t a single magic solution in F1; success relies heavily on mastering fundamentals,” said Stella. He emphasized that achieving great results requires both innovative designs and a thorough understanding of the methodologies that ensure effective development translates to track performance.
He noted the importance of consistency in data, which enables teams to adapt their simulations based on real race conditions. McLaren is cautious about new parts, as evidenced by testing a front wing in practice before launching it for competitive use, ensuring they thoroughly analyze data before making racing decisions.
Reflecting on the team’s competitive edge in 2025, Stella acknowledged the surprising level of performance but reaffirmed that the team had adopted an ‘aggressive’ strategy for evolving their car. He stated that the aim was to surpass the performance level set by rival teams, needing more than standard development to achieve consistent results.
