2X F1 Champ Has the Last Laugh as Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri’s Onslaught Legitimizes 3 Month Old Prediction

Back in June, the odds were stacked against McLaren. They were on equal footing with Alfa Romeo, sitting pretty (or should we say not-so-pretty) at sixth in the constructor standings. Red Bull? Seemingly light years ahead with a colossal 287 points, cruising as if they had magnets attracting those championship trophies.

But! Hold onto your helmets! Remember Mika Hakkinen’s June prophecy? The one where he foresaw McLaren, with just 17 points at that time, giving Red Bull a run for their money? Most of us chuckled. Oh, how times have changed!

But Hakkinen, ever the believer in his former squad, told Unibet, “I don’t think anyone is able to catch up this year…The only surprise we’ll see is McLaren’s possible progress during the next two months.” Well, that ‘two months’ stretched a little longer, but here we are! Fast forward to the recent Japanese GP qualifying. The McLaren duo is firing on all cylinders, literally! Oscar Piastri rocketed to the front row, with Lando Norris revving it up at third place. Did someone say podium?

Twitter user ahmed_baokbah piped up, reminding us of McLaren’s drastic transformation: from backmarkers to contending for podiums, they’re suddenly breathing down the necks of a Mercedes in Suzuka, outpacing them by 6 tenths. Every upgrade? Spot on. His conclusion? “We owe Mika Hakkinen an apology.”

So, the next time a two-time F1 champ makes a ‘bold’ prediction, maybe, just maybe, we should give it a second thought. Hats off, Mika! Your vision was 20/20.

Read More: Red Bull’s Attempt to Poach Norris Gets Befitting Response as Verstappen Camp Loses Driver to McLaren

But while Hakkinen’s prophecy had us all raising eyebrows, it’s the mechanics and aerodynamics that are doing the talking now. Let’s dive beneath the hood and see what McLaren’s been cooking.

McLaren’s aerodynamic evolution: Still much in the pipeline

The Woking-based speed demons are surely not done yet. With Norris clinching an awe-inspiring second place at the Singapore Grand Prix, it’s evident that the Marina Bay circuit’s high-downforce demands played right into McLaren’s hands, even when many believed the 2023 MCL60 package wouldn’t shine there. Surprise, surprise! But here’s the kicker: McLaren believes they’ve just scratched the surface!

Despite the strong progress initiated in Azerbaijan, the team’s principal, Andrea Stella, shared a rather cheeky insight to Motorsport.com: “We haven’t even achieved 50% of where we’d like the aerodynamic behavior to be.” Norris chimed in, hinting that the car still has some quirks he’s not a fan of. Stella, oozing optimism, stated, “Now we know what to tackle,” but cautioned that the real journey still lies ahead.

What’s New with the McLaren in Singapore & Japan?

From the front wing to the side pods, the MCL60 saw changes almost everywhere.

– Front Wing: The endplate’s new design aims for more outwash. Plus, there’s a tweak in the lower flap’s geometry.

– Floor Makeover: Some changes hide beneath the surface, but there’s a notable reshuffle in the fence set-up and the forward portion’s design.

– Sidepods and Inlets: The side pods received a hefty tweak, improving the airflow around the central channel and over the floor’s rear section.

– Halo and Rear Wing: There’s a new halo fairing design and a semi-detached tip section on the rear wing, all tweaked for higher downforce.

While the recent upgrades undeniably boosted McLaren’s performance, the team feels there’s a marathon ahead. As we eagerly wait for the next race, McLaren’s not done surprising us! Keep your eyes on Norris & Piastri’s papaya army, folks; the journey’s just begun.

WATCH THIS STORY | Is McLaren Looking To Go With Red Bull on its Engine Round About?