F1 Will the McLaren stay near the front in 2023?

Tim Wheatley

Founder
Staff member
We're going into a new season. My main fear for McLaren is how long it's really been since they have developed a decent car throughout the season... If they are fast in Bahrain, finishng on the podium in the first few races it means nothing for the season as a whole... Other teams have been way better at improving their cars...

Last time they actually developed a car, not just designed one? Maybe 10+ years? Yikes...
 
They weren't anywhere near the front last year.

If they can manage to improve back up to the level they were on in 2021 then there is a chance of more podiums.

Much as I rate Piastri, I think they might regret taking on a rookie in these days of zero testing; especially if the battle with Alpine is as close as it was in '22.
 
There was the podium for Lando last year and I felt the early part of the season they looked like upper midfield. But as they have for the last 10 years they seemed to stand still while everyone else developed over the latter half. Seems a reoccuring pattern. Maybe the new team boss can change this.
 
They had a single podium in Imola, which indeed was before most other midfield teams got their act together (McLaren didn't suffer porpoising as badly as the others). But one podium all season long is some way off where they were in 2021, and definitely a way off the top three teams.
 

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