McLaren focuses on improving pit stops after crucial errors

McLaren Focused on Improving Pit Stops After Recent Incidents

McLaren has put the focus on pit stops as a key area for improvement, after slow tire changes affected Lando Norris in the last two Grand Prix. A slow change of the front left tire at the Italian Grand Prix led to an uncomfortable situation with team orders, where Norris lost a position in the pits to Oscar Piastri, but then the position was given back. Subsequently, Norris suffered a slow pit stop at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix due to a problem adjusting the nut on the front right wheel, potentially costing him two positions and four points in the championship.

“Definitely, in terms of pit stops, that is an area where we have already focused our efforts,” McLaren team principal Andrea Stella stated after the race.

Andrea Stella

Stella added that it is crucial to continue working on this aspect, as pit stops can make a significant difference in overall performance. “The competition is becoming increasingly fierce, so the impact of a pit stop is becoming more and more important,” she pointed out.

McLaren believes its pit stops can improve. Stella also mentioned that improvements are being made to both the execution of the stops and the hardware, so that the process is easier and more natural for the team. The two McLaren drivers are separated by 25 points in a close battle for this year’s drivers’ championship. Stella confirmed that the problems in Monza and Baku were not related, but highlighted the general need for McLaren to raise its level. Regarding the incident in Baku, Stella explained that the problem was more related to the interaction between the operator and the gun, but acknowledged that there is still room for improvement in the hardware.