Formula 1 Abu Dhabi GP
McLaren: Addressing F1 low-downforce phenomenon now a priority
McLaren says that addressing the phenomenon of its Formula 1 car’s aerodynamics switching off at low-downforce levels is now a priority for 2024.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Nov 26, 2023, 7:16 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Woking-based squad has made huge gains with its MCL60 this season to emerge as one of the most consistent challengers to Red Bull over the second half of the campaign.
However, a more challenging time at last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix has highlighted that its rivals seem better prepared in low downforce configuration.
And, with the calendar featuring a growing number of circuits where such high-speed demands are required, it means McLaren cannot afford to ignore this development avenue.
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella has admitted all the outfit's data pointed to his team losing out much more in low downforce trim than the opposition.
"We seem to lose competitiveness when we need to run the car at this drag level," he said. "We do see, when it comes to our own observations, the fact that the aerodynamics kind of tends to switch off.
"I'm sure that's the same for everyone, but it's more about how large this phenomenon is – and it would look like it is slightly higher for our car than for some of our competitors."
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL60
Stella said that the emergence of high-speed street tracks like Baku and Vegas meant that ignoring low downforce performance was no longer an option for teams.
"While we continue with the development at the medium/high downforce with what we have done this year, we have definitely added quite a lot of work at low downforce and we want to go prepared to these circuits," he said.
"Now with Baku, with Vegas, Monza, and Spa, it starts to become a decent number of races for which you do have to have an optimised car. In the past, it was only Spa/Monza. So now we have added a few more races, it's a priority."
Stella explained that cars' aerodynamics become quite sensitive at low downforce levels because of the impact the lower front wing levels have on the wake around the front wheels – which is critical to car performance.
"When you go for a low rear wing, you go with a low front wing [for balance reasons], and very often this influences both ends because, when you reduce the load on the front wing, you reduce control of the front wheel wake," he said. "That affects then the behaviour of the car.
"So rather than simply losing [downforce] linearly, there's a point in which you lose more than linearly. And that's what you would like to bring back to kind of a linear loss."
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL60 and Lando Norris, McLaren MCL60 on the grid
McLaren developed an ultra-low downforce specification ahead of the Las Vegas GP, which featured just a single beam wing element but elected against using it in the end because of the low grip track surface.
"We had a new rear wing flap," added Stella. "We had another option to run even lower drag with the beam wing, but we didn't use it because we thought that we needed to leave some downforce on the car because of the low tarmac grip. So, we just used one of the two upgrades we had.
"But certainly, we knew that this kind of upgrade doesn't change the personality of the car in terms of how it responds to the rear wing level, and we knew that this was going to be a bit of a struggle."
Additional reporting by Adam Cooper
Read Also:
Formula 1CBS plans TV comedy show with Haas F1 boss Guenther Steiner
Formula 1Aston Martin: New F1 investment doesn't signal Lawrence Stroll exit
Formula 1Drivers call for F1's Las Vegas race to move away from Abu Dhabi finale
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article F1 to test automatic rain light solution in Abu Dhabi
Next article F1 Form Guide: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
McLaren
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
McLaren held fresh talks after Singapore GP clash as Lando Norris promises to "make better decisions"
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
McLaren held fresh talks after Singapore GP clash as Lando Norris promises to "make better decisions"
Latest news
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
4 h
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Kimi Antonelli ready to "finish the job" as first F1 title chance beckons at US GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
5 h
Kimi Antonelli ready to "finish the job" as first F1 title chance beckons at US GP
How to watch NASCAR at Talladega II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
5 h
How to watch NASCAR at Talladega II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
Peterson Racing addresses online abuse after parting ways with Austin Green
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Talladega II
5 h
Peterson Racing addresses online abuse after parting ways with Austin Green
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe