McLaren planning "B-spec" upgrade before F1 summer break

McLaren is planning a "kind of B-spec upgrade" to its 2023 Formula 1 car, which will arrive before the summer break as the second of three major upgrades.

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL60, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL60

McLaren started the 2023 season with a draggy car after taking the wrong direction in floor development last winter.

In a tight midfield the team is yet to score point, although its regression in performance has been compounded by reliability issues and on-track incidents.

Having realised even before the season kicked off in Bahrain that it would start the year on the backfoot, the Woking-based team changed course with a first upgrade planned for the fourth race in Baku, which will feature a different floor design.

But team boss Andrea Stella revealed its Baku update is just the first of three major upgrade packages, with a second update coming before the summer break amounting to "a kind of B-spec".

"In terms of development [the Baku package] just the first step," Stella said.

"We would expect definitely another major upgrade, which will interest more areas of the car and be much more apparent. That is what somebody may call like kind of a B-spec car.

"And then we expect to have a further round of upgrades in the second part of the season after the shutdown.

"So we have three main steps: Baku, later on - I don't want to commit to any date but before shutdown - and then after shutdown.

"We hope that each of them will be able to provide a few tenths of a second so that we put ourselves in a more realistic position to meet our ambition to become a top four car towards the end of the season."

Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren

Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Earlier this month McLaren announced a complete reorganisation of its technical leadership structure, with technical director James Key replaced by three different tech directors each with their own remit.

It signed David Sanchez from Ferrari as its head of car concept and performance, who will join at the start of 2024 after completing his gardening leave.

The team's prominent aero expert Peter Prodromou moves into the role of technical director of aerodynamics and Neil Houldey is promoted into the new role of technical director of engineering and design.

In addition to Sanchez, the team has been headhunting more staff from its rivals, including Aston Martin's Mariano Alperin.

Read Also:

While the Baku spec was already signed off before the reshuffle was carried out, Stella thinks the team's "B-spec" MCL60 will already benefit from the changes.

"The [new leadership] model affects this delivery of performance because it will accelerate the development rate," he explained.

"We will see the impact not in Baku, obviously, because what comes in Baku was released in design like two months ago. But definitely it will impact the next round of upgrades."

shares
comments

Related video

FIA widens F1 grid boxes after Ocon and Alonso penalty controversies

Hamilton welcomes Brazilian court judgement against Piquet

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14 How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14

Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate

Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Alex Kalinuackas

Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate

Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory

Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory

The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP

The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Alex Kalinauckas

The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP

What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset

What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Jonathan Noble

What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset

Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?

Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Matt Kew

Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari? Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?

Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience

Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Jake Boxall-Legge

Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience

Subscribe