McLaren has explained that its Formula 1 car becoming “more difficult to drive” was behind the team’s sudden regression in pace in qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix.
The Woking-based squad delivered on the pre-weekend prediction that it would be strong at the Lusail International Circuit as Oscar Piastri led a 1-2 in the Sprint race.
However, McLaren was unable to replicate that potential in qualifying for the main Grand Prix as Lando Norris and Piastri were resigned to locking out the second row.
Norris headed the times in the weekend’s earlier qualifying session, but he lagged two-tenths behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who beat George Russell’s Mercedes.
McLaren boss Andrea Stella has disclosed an increase in wind intensity unsettled the MCL38 to the point it made the drivers more susceptible to encountering snaps.
“It was a more complicated session for us in terms of qualifying pace compared to yesterday,” Stella acknowledged. “Today the conditions were slightly different.
“It may look [like] small things.
“It is still windy and gusty compared to how it was yesterday in the Sprint quali [when the wind dropped]. This meant that our car was more difficult to drive than yesterday.
“Yesterday, as soon as the wind calmed down, the car became very predictable and our drivers could really attack.
“Today I have to say it was more about almost defending and trying to be cautious because any time we were attacking for ultimate pace, we were having problems.”
McLaren relieved to lock-out second row
McLaren still managed to edge title rival Ferrari, however, which wasn’t the case on the opening laps when an oversteer moment at Turn 5 saw Norris abandon his run.
“Lando and Oscar have done a good job in securing a P3, P4,” Stella added.
“At some stage in Q3 it was like P7, P10. We got a little nervous, but they stayed calm and they delivered when it counted.”
Rivals’ pace no surprise to McLaren
Stella has insisted that he is not surprised McLaren didn’t emerge as the pacesetting side despite the assumption the high-speed track was tailor-made for its MCL38.
“Russell, he was on course for pole position already yesterday, so it’s not a surprise,” the Italian highlighted.
“The other car ahead of us is Max Verstappen, and I think I said it all, when it’s Max you can never discount him.
“So it’s a good result, a good starting position for tomorrow. Tomorrow will be very much about race pace and that’s where we have to be good.
“The Sprint has been promising, but even the Sprint has been quite compact.
“So I think once again for the spectators and the F1 fans, it’s going to be an entertaining evening.”
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