McLaren sees Baku struggles repeat at similar late-season venue

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McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has pinpointed a relative weakness embedded in its MCL39 contender that hampered its performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and could pose challenges later this season at another venue.

Despite McLaren’s commanding form, which has left the team on the verge of clinching F1’s Constructors’ Championship, perhaps as early as this weekend in Singapore, the Baku race exposed a vulnerability that Stella attributes to the car’s design.

According to the Italian engineer, the heavy braking that resulted from Baku’s high-speed straights was a specific condition that McLaren’s car struggled to master. And looking ahead, Stella believes Las Vegas will present a similar challenge.

“From a performance point of view, if you had asked me, ‘What is the most difficult weekend?’, I would have said it would be Baku or Las Vegas,” Stella told reporters.

“We know very well that the characteristics of our car mean that it is very competitive in long and medium speed corners, of which there are none in Baku, likewise in Las Vegas.

“The car is not particularly effective in straight line braking, of which there is a lot [in Baku and Vegas], or when you have to go through prescribed trajectories.”

Las Vegas Looms as Another Challenge

Stella anticipates more struggles for team papaya at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where the track layout mirrors Baku’s demands for heavy braking and minimal medium-speed corners.

“The car really wants to roll in the corners, like Turn 1 at Zandvoort is a McLaren corner, of which you have none in Baku or Vegas,” he added.

“But having said that, the car was fast enough to compete for pole position [in Baku], which is a credit to the engineers who have designed a pretty versatile car, even when not operating within the strengths of the car itself.

“So, Las Vegas, it will definitely not be a surprise that there are cars as competitive as McLaren.”

Optimism for Singapore

Stella is confident that this week’s change of scenery in Singapore will better suit McLaren’s strengths.
“The Marina Bay Circuit brings unique challenges, especially from a human performance element due to the high humidity and time shift for both team and drivers.

“Returning to the location of an impressive win for Lando last year, it’s also a higher downforce street circuit than Baku, with higher tyre degradation in 2024, that should better suit the characteristics of the MCL39.

“The entire team both at track and back in Woking are motivated to continue adding important points into both Championships.”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.