McLaren F1 team has been under the spotlight for its performance this season, and not for the right reasons. The team’s struggle for points and a less-than-ideal start to the season has raised several eyebrows. Amid this, Lando Norris has been vocal about his growing impatience. As McLaren aims to turn around its fortunes with a significant upgrade package for the MCL60, the big question is – will this pacify the frustration within Norris and the team?

McLaren’s 2023 performance has been subpar, to say the least. The team’s failure to meet key development targets, specifically in terms of aerodynamic efficiency, has resulted in a car that struggles with cornering and speed. The team’s ranking in the constructors’ standings (6th), closer to the bottom than to the top, reflects this struggle. But the winds of change are blowing at McLaren.

Talking about the new updates coming to the MCL60, Team principal Andrea Stella admitted, “We just didn’t put in the updates very strategically, we just wanted to be as early as possible.” The team is planning for a phased introduction of updates, starting with the Austrian Grand Prix, then moving to Silverstone and Hungary. These upgrades are anticipated to make the car at least three-tenths of a second faster, potentially reinvigorating McLaren’s competitiveness.

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While Norris’ frustration with the team’s performance is palpable, the promise of these upgrades seems to offer a glimmer of hope. As Stella puts it, the car will essentially have been redesigned from the ground up. Could this be the turning point McLaren needs?

Can a strategic shift breathe new air into McLaren?

In a significant strategic shift, in early March, McLaren announced a complete reorganization of its technical leadership structure. Three technical directors, including David Sanchez from Ferrari, have replaced James Key. McLaren expects this restructuring to accelerate the development rate and make a noticeable impact on the planned upgrades.

The looming upgrade has raised expectations among the McLaren faithful and beyond, with former world champion Mika Hakkinen predicting that the team could be one of the fastest on the grid, challenging even the mighty Red Bull. The team mentioned the introduction of a “significant package” of upgrades, but they didn’t provide the exact details of these changes.

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What do you feel about McLaren’s future on the track?