McLaren had to wait a few decades but can finally say it has returned to being a worthy title contender. The Woking team, in the third year since the return of ground effect single-seaters, found themselves with the most competitive car in the paddock and two excellent drivers. But despite this he only achieved one victory, in Miami. There are many, too many times in which the English team came close to victory and then failed to bring it home. The list is long: Imola, Montreal, Barcelona, Austria, and Silverstone. All races that he could potentially have brought home. The failure in this case does not arise from the machine, but rather appears to come from a series of strategic errors that compromise the chances of victory.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment came at Silverstone, the home race. A series of questionable decisions meant Lando Norris and the team failed to fully capitalize on their potential, resulting in a meager third place. This trend, as we have already said, is not new, but has also manifested itself in previous events.
Repeated errors, what is the team missing?
In the races that McLaren did not win, two teams who more recently had the opportunity to compete for a world title did so: Red Bull and Mercedes. It's certainly no coincidence. The opportunities that arise must be seized, and McLaren often allows themselves to be bypassed even though they have everything ready. The team is still relatively young and the drivers are no different. Finding yourself fighting for victories during the current season, when previously you were rejoicing for a podium or worse, for a points finish, necessarily implies some difficulties. These moments of disappointment however, have become a constant for McLaren, raising questions about its ability to convert the car's speed into tangible results on the circuit. Which Red Bull manages to do despite having a less performing car.
During the Silverstone Grand Prix, McLaren faltered in crucial strategic decisions. A clear example was the case of the double pit stop. The English team preferred to sacrifice Oscar Piastri by keeping him out while Mercedes, knowing they could aim for a double podium, decided to bring both drivers back at the same time. Another moment in which the English team's shortcomings were evident concerns the switch to dry tyres. The choice of soft tires was not made decisively, but rather haphazardly. This lack of clarity, especially when trying to beat a team like Red Bull, known for precision in strategies, ends up destroying the race.
The feeling is that McLaren lacks someone who takes responsibility for the most important decisions. Communication between pilot and race engineer must be as quick and precise as possible. It must not leave room for misunderstanding or create confusion. A theme that is very dear not only to McLaren but also to Ferrari.
Growth under the leadership of Andrea Stella
McLaren under the leadership ofi Andrea Stella is demonstrating steady growth. With his leadership, McLaren is addressing past issues with a more systematic and disciplined approach. Stella has introduced significant improvements in resource management. While there are still challenges to overcome, McLaren's progress under Stella's leadership is evident and promising for the future. His team, his project, however, is still being defined. Rob Marshall, a very important figure, arrived from Red Bull in January. After just three months the team sent David Sanchez away, evidently not suited to the project. McLaren under his leadership went from being one of the worst cars on the grid to the best. But now we definitely need to take another step.
Stella was also quite frank and honest about the mistakes at Silverstone. He admitted that the team made the wrong decisions and that this cost Lando the victory and a better placing for Piastri.
When certain mistakes happen to those who aren't fighting for victory they obviously become less relevant, but in the case of McLaren, having the best car in the paddock, all eyes are on the team's work. A failure therefore becomes heavier and amplified. McLaren must learn quickly if it doesn't want to risk throwing away all these victories. Also because next year the fight will be even more fierce, and we can already talk about a global fight.
Follow Red Bull's lead
Red Bull represents a benchmark in the strategic management of races. Max Verstappen's clear and rapid responses via radio reflect a deep trust and collaboration between driver and team. This efficiency has been one of the keys to Red Bull's success in recent years. If McLaren wants to compete effectively for the title, it must not only improve the speed of its car, but also its ability to make quick and correct decisions under pressure.
