The 2022 regulations have revolutionized Formula 1 racing. Cars have been able to follow closely as a result of less dirty air and ground effects. However, with this reset in regulations came a chance for bolder design choices by engineers.

McLaren have been on the up in recent years. Their partnership with Honda was arguably doomed from the beginning. However, smart design choices and a Renault engine deal brought them back on track. Having built on that with a Mercedes engine in the back and P4 in the Constructors’ last year, this had to be McLaren’s year, right?

To their dismay, McLaren have failed to up their game. Currently, they lie behind Alpine (formerly Renault) on pure pace and results.

Technical Director James Key explains, “I think we’ve chided ourselves a bit for not being as brave as we could have been. Some of the bodywork concepts we had were quite extreme and actually not dissimilar to what we’ve begun to see on a few other cars, let’s say.”

Key expounded, “We figured not knowing these cars very well and committing to something which was extreme in the first year of rags… we ended up a little bit more conservative.”

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Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris have now opened up about their struggles with the MCL36.

McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris on why they are struggling in 2022

McLaren’s 2022 driver lineup has now spoken about how cumbersome the MCL36 can be to drive. Both Ricciardo and Norris have been struggling to put in the lap times and have now opened up about why exactly that is.

Norris explained, “From what I want from the car, it’s like the opposite of what it’s giving me at the minute! And yeah, I would say the car I have now is completely not what I want for my driving style, and very unsuited for me.”

Similarly, Ricciardo expressed the MCL36 was “certainly one of the most” difficult cars he’s driven in F1.

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McLaren went in conservative this year. But with the field so closely packed together, they could still have a few aces up their sleeve to reshuffle the pecking order. Will McLaren ever fight at the pinnacle of Formula 1 again?