The McLaren team left their rivals in the dust during the practice sessions ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. Lando Norris, the young British driver, showcased impressive speed and consistency, leaving fans and pundits buzzing with excitement.
"McLaren was conclusively fastest. The lap Lando Norris abandoned at Rivazza 1 was set to be 0.25s faster than Leclerc’s."
[@wearetherace] pic.twitter.com/wPWnBNiE5q
— McLaren News | 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 (@McLarenF1_News) May 17, 2024
During the second practice session, Norris was on a flying lap when he encountered traffic at Rivazza 1. Despite having to abandon the lap, the telemetry data revealed that it was set to be a staggering 0.25 seconds faster than Charles Leclerc’s best effort. The McLaren was conclusively the fastest car on the track, hinting at their potential for the upcoming race day.
McLaren’s Game-Changing Upgrade Package Shines in Miami
McLaren made waves during the Miami Grand Prix with their highly anticipated 2024 upgrade package. The team, led by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, unveiled significant improvements that not only boosted performance but also addressed critical tire degradation issues.
McLaren had set its sights on a May release for the first major upgrade batch for the MCL38. Team boss Andrea Stella confirmed that they were on track to introduce the new specification at the Miami Grand Prix held on May 5. The team’s realistic approach acknowledges that continuous development is necessary to compete at the front consistently.
Andrea Stella shed light on the team’s approach: “These upgrades will also include some attempts to improve tire degradation, so we will try and see if we can take a step forward. Considering the amount of improvement we should do to get closer to some of our competitors, I would say that we need more than one round of upgrades in terms of helping the behavior of the tires”.
The enhancements to the car’s aerodynamics, chassis, and power unit translated into improved lap times. Norris and Piastri showcased the McLaren’s newfound speed, challenging both Ferrari and Mercedes.McLaren’s engineers focused on optimizing tire management. Rear tire degradation had been a key differentiator in previous races, and the team aimed to address this issue. The upgrades aimed to strike a balance between outright pace and tire preservation.
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