McLaren pinpoint wind stability issues ahead of new season

McLaren

McLaren pinpoint wind stability issues ahead of new season

McLaren was blighted by problems in blustery conditions last year

Ewan Gale

Monday 8 February 2021 09:34

McLaren technical director James Key believes the team has pinpointed the cause of the issues that affected last year's car when in blustery conditions ahead of the new season.

The Woking-based team finished third in the constructors' standings last year with a much-improved car, securing two podiums in the process courtesy of Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz.

The McLarens, however, struggled for form in high-winds throughout the campaign, in particular, lacking stability through corners under pressure from gusts.

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This has remained a concern with the cars being largely carried over into the new season, although Key has indicated the team has discovered where the problem lies.

"You expect a wind tunnel to be pretty good with that [simulating windy conditions] wouldn't you but actually it is not," he quipped.

"I think it has been a bit of an issue for us. There is something there that is possibly slightly more sensitive although we think we have pinned it down to one thing.

"It is just a characteristic of the car we need to iron out. With these things, there is no silver bullet, you just have to work on it."

Key acknowledged the MCL35 was not the only car to suffer issues when racing in such conditions but conceded he believed the team could have secured even better results had conditions been easier on occasion.

"There is an element of maybe being a bit more affected than others - positively as well as negatively, depending on the direction of the wind," he added.

"Every car, of course, suffers from this. [On a race weekend] the drivers were saying that even though it was tricky, they could see the guy ahead locking up and having troubles as well so we know it affects everyone.

"On occasion, when we know it has been in the wrong direction or has affected a certain corner in a certain way, it has had a worse effect on us sometimes and we saw that at a few events.

"Four events spring to mind for me where we could have performed better without quite such blustery conditions."