McLaren claims it does not have to ‘model’ its 2024 car on Red Bull to challenge Max Verstappen

The McLaren F1 team is on an upward trajectory at the pinnacle of motor racing.


McLaren claims it does not have to ‘model’ its 2024 car on Red Bull to challenge Max Verstappen

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

The McLaren F1 team proved to be one of the most improved outfits during the 2023 F1 season. They managed to end the campaign in a respectable fourth place and ahead of this year’s season, they have claimed that they don’t have to copy Red Bull to challenge them.

Max Verstappen and Co. operated on a whole new level last year with 21 wins, but despite this, it was Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who were able to take the fight to them on occasion. Going into 2024, McLaren is high on confidence.

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Its team principal, Andrea Stella, recently admitted during the presentation of the 2024 livery, that they will not copy Red Bull and said, as reported by Motorsport:

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I don't think everything will converge or be modeled on the Red Bull shapes. Our performance development appears to be in line with what was defined last year, a work that began with the updates brought to Austria and Singapore.

Looking at the reaction of Stella, it seems that the working-based team has its own plans going into the upcoming campaign. 2023’s MCL60 received immense applause from the pundits and McLaren could come up with an even better car this year.

McLaren has the youngest driver pairing on the current F1 grid

While the papaya-colored team is currently busy sparking its magic on its 2024 F1 car, it also has a very strong driver pairing in the form of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri Piastri. They also happen to be the youngest driver pairing on the current grid.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri (via IMAGO).

The duo performed exceptionally well during the 2023 campaign of the pinnacle of motor racing, as they managed to bring home a brilliant 302 points for McLaren. Norris amassed 205 whereas Piastri was able to put on board 97. One has to keep in mind that the latter was in his rookie campaign last year.

With the highly-awaited 2024 F1 season approaching at the rate of knots, it is going to be fascinating to see what kind of a car McLaren would show up with at testing. Several eyes will be on them on the 21st of February.

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