McLaren has embarked on their journey to improve their MCL60 with a significant upgrade package unveiled in Austria.
The team acknowledges that they started the F1 2023 season below their target, falling towards the back of the field instead of making strides towards the leading teams.
However, the Austrian Grand Prix is seen as a turning point, as McLaren aims to catch up with Alpine, Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Mercedes by introducing a B-Spec challenger.
Ahead of the start of the Austria race weekend, McLaren provided a glimpse of their newly-introduced modifications, focusing primarily on the sidepod area.
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The changes have been described as having “a bit of Aston Martin, a bit of Red Bull,” aligning with the trend of major upgrade packages from Mercedes and Ferrari adopting solutions similar to the dominant Red Bull team.
Additionally, McLaren has dedicated efforts to revise the floor of the MCL60.
Initially, only Lando Norris will run these upgrades in Austria, with the package set to progress further at the British Grand Prix, where both Norris and Oscar Piastri will benefit from the latest version of the MCL60.
Speaking about the upgrades, Norris expressed optimism, saying: “Some medium-sized upgrades on the car, so hopefully this helps us take a step forward.”
“The team have done a good job… it’s a good thing to try and bring as early as possible.”
He acknowledged the challenging start to the season and hopes that the upgrades will enable McLaren to compete for more points.
Norris also addressed the importance of patience in Formula 1, emphasising the need to persevere when things do not go as planned.
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Despite his impressive performances, the young British driver has yet to secure a victory, but his name often arises in discussions about potential future champions.
Reflecting on his patience, Norris stated: “You have to be in Formula 1 because things can not go your way for many years.”
Currently, Norris sits in 11th place in the Drivers’ Championship standings, accumulating 12 points heading into the Austria round. With the introduction of the upgrade package and his determination, Norris aims to improve his position and contribute to McLaren’s progress as they strive to close the gap with their rivals.