McLaren’s 2024 Red Bull Chase

Image: Motorsport Images

The 2024 Formula 1 season is shaping up to be a thrilling battle as McLaren, under the impressive performances of Lando Norris and rookie Oscar Piastri are driven by the desire to catch Red Bull Racing, and has steadily closed the gap on the dominant team.

Red Bull Racing, led by the three-time world champion Max Verstappen, has enjoyed unprecedented dominance in recent seasons, rarely finding themselves defending their lead from another car. However, thanks to the remarkable efforts of McLaren, Red Bull is now facing a genuine threat, forcing them to consider the competition rather than just cruising to victory. 

McLaren's Remarkable Transformation 

McLaren's journey towards becoming a true contender against Red Bull began with a mid-season upgrade, which turned the team into a formidable force capable of challenging Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Mercedes. In recent races, McLaren has not only proven itself as the best of the rest but has also started to resemble a team capable of challenging Red Bull for the top spot. 

Qualifying 

One of the key indicators of McLaren's progress has been their performance in qualifying. Both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have secured Sprint race pole positions during the season. Notably, Norris outperformed Verstappen in Friday's Q2 session at the Brazilian Grand Prix. However, as the saying goes, "qualifying is not where you win races," and McLaren is well aware that they must also excel in the races to truly challenge Red Bull. 

Read More: Oscar Piastri Signs New Contract Until 2026

The Race Pace Challenge 

The true test of McLaren's potential to challenge Red Bull lies in race pace. While qualifying is important, the dynamics of the race are entirely different. Red Bull has configured its car around race performance, acknowledging that overtaking is easier under F1's new ground-effect rules. In recent races, we witnessed McLaren and Red Bull drivers going head-to-head in a straight fight using similar tire strategies. McLaren was able to stay competitive, giving away just over a tenth per lap over the course of a race, indicating that they are closing the gap in race pace. 

Image: McLaren Media

Understanding McLaren's Strengths 

McLaren's progress is evident in the consistent upgrades they have brought to their car, delivering clear performance improvements. This suggests a team with a strong understanding of its strengths and weaknesses. Their mid-season upgrades significantly improved tire management, an area where McLaren had room for improvement. The car's performance in high-speed sections remains impressive, and McLaren appears to be competitive on various types of corners, challenging Red Bull on multiple fronts. 

The Chassis and Driver Factor 

McLaren believes that their race pace deficit against Red Bull primarily stems from the chassis and driver performance. While McLaren has shown significant progress, Team Principal Andrea Stella suggests that they still lag behind Red Bull in terms of tire degradation, which is a combination of aerodynamics and mechanical grip. McLaren is targeting specific areas for development, focusing on closing this performance gap. 

Read More: Rob Marshall Leaves Red Bull for McLaren

Suspension as a Key Element 

Suspension design plays a critical role in an F1 car's performance, contributing to both aerodynamic development and tire utilization. Red Bull's clever rear suspension layout stabilizes their aerodynamic platform and allows for more consistent downforce production. Any improvements in suspension design can have a significant impact on tire life over a race stint. As Andrea Stella notes, suspension development is not easy and must be done early in the season, making it a priority for all teams in the winter of 2023. 

Lando Norris's Role 

Lando Norris's impressive performances have been a highlight for McLaren. He has consistently been at the upper limit of what the car can achieve since the mid-season upgrade. Norris's ability to figure out the car's weaknesses and his increased confidence have contributed to his success. McLaren's upgrades have provided him with a car that suits his driving style, allowing him to push harder without stressing the tires. 

Image: Reuters

Qualifying Improvements 

Although Norris has been critical of his qualifying performances, Team Principal Andrea Stella believes that he can improve by not pushing too hard in the early stages of qualifying sessions. This suggests that McLaren is confident in their ability to extract more pace from Norris during qualifying. 

Challenges in Race Starts 

One area where McLaren still lags behind Red Bull is race starts. Red Bull's meticulous work on their starting procedures and clutch settings gives them an advantage over McLaren at the beginning of races. Improving race starts will require both technical and driver-focused developments. 

Looking Ahead to 2024 

As McLaren continues to make strides in catching Red Bull, they must be prepared for the field to become more competitive. Red Bull's dominance curve may soon plateau, opening up opportunities for other teams. McLaren must remain focused on their development efforts to capitalize on this potential shift in the Formula 1 landscape. 

McLaren's plans to catch Red Bull in the 2024 season are becoming increasingly plausible. Their consistent upgrades, improved race pace, and Lando Norris's outstanding performances have put them on the path to challenging Red Bull Racing's dominance. As they continue to fine-tune their car's performance, McLaren is gearing up for an exciting and competitive season ahead, with the goal of dethroning Red Bull and claiming the top spot in Formula 1.