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via Reuters

via Reuters

McLaren is not having the best start to the 2022 season. The English constructors are struggling to compete against the other F1 teams. McLaren only bagged six points this season after Lando Norris finished P7 at the Jeddah race. But the team has an impressive performance out of the grid on the pitlane.

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The English constructors might not have the best pace this season on the grid. But they have the fastest pit stops this season. The Papaya team had the fastest pitstop of 2.31 seconds in the season-opener at Bahrain. Not long after, they again completed the fastest and, in fact, second-fastest pitstop with Danial and Lando at Saudi Arabian GP of 2.41 and 2.51 seconds, respectively. McLaren CEO Zak Brown posted this on social his Twitter handle saying, “Great job team!”

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Pit stop timing might not look that important. But it can change the entire tide of a race. A faster pit stop allows a driver to join the race soon. Meanwhile, a slower pit stop can even lead to losing a race. Undoubtedly, McLaren has a phenomenal crew this season for the pit stops. Now all they need to focus is on the car to improve it for future races.

Can McLaren return to the front in 2022?

The British F1 team is struggling while their rival, Ferrari are dominating this season. Although McLaren had a decent pre-season, they are struggling since the season-opener at Bahrain. The Honey Badger and Norris both can’t bring the most out of the car.

via Reuters

In Bahrain, the McLaren duo couldn’t even finish in the Top 10. So, had to return to Woking without a single point. The poor form continued haunting them even in Saudi Arabia. Both the drivers again failed to get a Top 10 qualifying. But things got worse in the main race where Daniel Ricciardo had to retire because of a suspected engine failure.

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Meanwhile, the young McLaren driver Norris finished P7 after starting from P11. But the Brit was struggling with the car at long straights and only did great at the high-speed corners of the tricky Jeddah circuit. The young Briton even revealed later that their car struggles at slow-speed corners and long straights and the high-speed corners are the only places where it excels.

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It is still too soon to conclude that Mclaren can’t return to the fight in the front. There are still 21 races left and next up on the list is Albert Park, Melbourne which features many high-speed corners. Let’s see if the Woking base makes a comeback at one of their driver’s home race.