McLaren’s intent is clear as they enter the Japanese Grand Prix after a trying opening to the season: the only way is up. Suzuka’s singular and spectacular test will form another part of the team’s learning curve of the new regulations, with optimism that the defending champion Lando Norris’s title and the team’s constructors’ championship are still within reach.
After Mercedes dominated the opening two rounds, McLaren found themselves third fastest but well behind Ferrari and as much as half a second off the pace. They were honest in acknowledging they had work to do on the aerodynamic side of the chassis and on understanding how best to exploit their new engines under the power management rules that are now a key part of performance.
