McLaren’s performance in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was hampered by a clear weakness on the long straights, team principal Andrea Stella said after a “very frustrating Saturday”. Speaking to Formula1.com, Stella explained that the high‑speed sections of the Baku City Circuit – particularly the 2.2‑kilometre main straight – laid bare the car’s inability to generate the top‑end velocity required to compete with the front‑running teams.
Stella noted that while the team showed progress in cornering grip and tyre management, the power unit and aerodynamic package still lag behind Red Bull and Ferrari when it comes to straight‑line thrust. The MCL60’s rear‑wing design, he said, sacrifices some low‑drag efficiency for down‑force, a trade‑off that works on twisty tracks but becomes a liability on Baku’s long, uninterrupted sections. The result was a noticeable gap to the leaders on the start‑finish straight, where McLaren struggled to keep pace even after a clean launch.
The team’s engineers are now reviewing data from the weekend to identify where aerodynamic drag can be trimmed without compromising cornering performance. Stella hinted that a revised rear‑wing configuration and a potential upgrade to the power‑unit mapping could be on the cards for the next race, aiming to close the deficit before the high‑speed circuits in the upcoming calendar.
For Indian fans: The next race is the Singapore Grand Prix, a street circuit that also features long straights but with more emphasis on braking zones. The race will be broadcast live on FanCode with commentary in English and Hindi, starting at 10:00 IST on 22 September. Keeping an eye on McLaren’s straight‑line upgrades will be crucial, as the team will be looking to convert any aerodynamic gains into points on a track where top speed still matters.
Source: Formula1.com
