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McLaren's Mexico GP: Podium Pace Wasted in Dirty Air
4 Nov
Summary
- McLaren's raw race pace was negated by poor qualifying track position.
- The thin air in Mexico made following cars and cooling difficult.
- Oscar Piastri received a penalty for contact with Arvid Lindblad.
McLaren experienced a challenging Mexico City Grand Prix, where their car's inherent pace was significantly hampered by starting grid positions. Team principal Andrea Stella noted that the high altitude and thin air of Mexico City made aerodynamic following and car cooling exceptionally difficult, effectively trapping drivers in turbulent air.
Lando Norris spent the entire race stuck behind other cars, unable to leverage McLaren's potential. Adding to the team's woes, Oscar Piastri received a time penalty for contact with Arvid Lindblad, which cost McLaren valuable points in their championship battle. Stella expressed frustration over the penalty, stating it was a shame given Piastri's strong recovery drive.
This outcome is critical as McLaren is in a close fight with Red Bull Racing for third place in the Constructors' Championship, trailing by 17 points. Stella expressed confidence that with upcoming upgrades for the next race in Brazil, McLaren has a strong chance to close this gap. However, he emphasized the necessity of flawless team execution, particularly avoiding qualifying errors, to achieve this goal.
