Andrea Stella confirms McLaren has already started their 2024 car development 

The 2023 season marks one of McLaren's strongest performances since 2020.

Andrea Stella confirms McLaren has already started their 2024 car development 

Andrea Stella and Lando Norris (Via IMAGO)

Following a challenging start to the season with several setbacks and unsuccessful strategies, McLaren has successfully rebounded as one of the formidable contenders on the grid. McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella recently disclosed that the team has shifted its priorities from continuously developing the current car, McL60. Instead, they are dedicating their efforts to laying the groundwork for next year, signaling a strategic shift toward future success.

When questioned about McLaren’s approach to maintaining the right balance between enhancing this year’s car and establishing a solid foundation for the upcoming season, Stella acknowledged that they have stopped the development of current cars and are now focused on the 2024 challenger.

“The focus itself on development has stopped. We are now working on next year’s car. I think this is pretty much what has happened in every team,” Stella said, as reported by Motorsportsweek.

Nevertheless, Stella also revealed McLaren’s intention to introduce additional pre-planned updates to their car throughout the remaining races of this season. He expresses optimism that these forthcoming modifications will place McLaren on the podium during the latter stages of the year.

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Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris can compete against each other, but within certain parameters 

McLaren' Cars 2023
McLaren

Amid the intense competition for higher positions in the drivers’ championship, Andrea Stella emphasized that both of their drivers have the freedom to engage in on-track battles. However, this spirited racing is to be conducted within the framework of rules and regulations set by the team, ensuring a fair and respectful competition between their drivers.

Following the events at the Monza Grand Prix, where Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were locked in an intense on-track battle, Andrea Stella found himself in an unusual situation since joining the team. Piastri contacted Norris through the first chicane at Monza after a pit stop during the Italian Grand Prix weekend. Despite Norris’ car taking a heavy hit on the right-rear wheel from Piastri, both drivers were fortunate to escape without significant damage to their cars.

In light of the intense battle between the two McLaren drivers, Stella acknowledged that “there should never, ever be contact between two McLaren cars”. Furthermore, Stella emphasized that both drivers “are free to race. My role is to give them principles and a clear perimeter within which they can race. This is what we want to see.”

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