McLaren weighs up F1 development dilemma
McLaren weighs up F1 development dilemma
McLaren technical director James Key revealed the team is acutely aware it faces a no-win scenario when taking the decision as for when to shift focus to its 2022 car.
Next year, Formula 1 will enter a radically new era of design, with cars built to completely new aerodynamic specifications.
Usually, teams with the resources available would pour funds into the development of both cars simultaneously but, with a budget cap introduced for the first time this year, the approach is no longer possible.
Although no team is likely to continue major development work past the summer break, there are differences up and down the paddock as to when teams will sideline the current cars altogether, with either this season or next to be compromised depending on timing.
Notably, Haas halted their development for 2021 in January and Ferrari has since followed suit with a 90-95 per cent focus now on next year, although the Scuderia will still bring small upgrades to future races.
Asked about the fine balancing act, Key said: “I guess it’s, given the circumstances, an obvious question to answer knowing how much work we’ve got for next year and the fact that there is a very tight field around where we are, but it’s good in that there are several answers to it I think and there are several ways of doing this.
“But clearly you are going to compromise something by going one route or the other so I think you’ve just got to be pragmatic really.
“What we can see is a 2022 car is such a different kind of thing, there is so much work to understand fully what these cars are going to be like that naturally there has got to be an ongoing project in the background there somewhere so it is never a case of one or the other.
“But when it comes to finishing one and entirely concentrating on the other, that is something that we are monitoring along the way really."
After four races, McLaren holds a slender five-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors' championship 'fight for third' but with the Scuderia now focussed on next year, the value of further major development on the MCL35M is questionable.
However, suggesting a continuation of development, Key added: “Our car isn’t finished yet, there is a little bit more work to do for sure.
"We’ve only done four races of a 23 race season so it seems horribly early to be calling a day but of course, there comes a point where you have to switch everything over and concentrate on '22.
“Deadlines will come quickly. As soon as you’re over the August break that is when your definition period really kicks in and you’ve got to finalise your architecture and the direction you want to take on certain major parts of the car.
“It’s a matter of months but in those months I think the balancing act is going to be the key thing and we will take it race by race with how we progress with that.”
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 News Today: Red Bull star set to QUIT team as F1 legend reveals flood of death threats
- 1 hour ago
Audi agree STAR driver contract as Mercedes driver tipped for new F1 seat THIS season - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
- Yesterday 22:57
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
- Yesterday 21:57
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- Yesterday 17:57
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- Yesterday 20:57
Related news
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
Young F1 star set to make McLaren debut in injury replacement
F1 star reveals how Verstappen and Hamilton rivalry influenced key decision
Norris reveals CRUCIAL save that kept him at McLaren
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860