McLaren says it cannot be happy with its current trajectory if it is to have any hope of targeting both Formula 1 championships next year.
The Woking-based team could clinch the constructors’ title in the Qatar Grand Prix today, which would be the first time it has done so since 1998 when Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard were its drivers.
Having missed out on the drivers’ crown, with Lando Norris set to finish runner-up behind Max Verstappen, the squad is well aware that sights have to be set on doing better next season.
But despite being so strong for much of this campaign, and expected to be a front-runner for the final year of the current rules’ set, McLaren feels that gains rivals have made in recent races show it needs to respond before 2025 begins.
Speaking about the challenge of going one better next year, McLaren team boss Andrea Stella said: “I think it's fair to say that, given that at the time we talk, we are P1 in the constructors’ and we are in the quest to try and win it, plus P2 in the drivers’ championship and we are in an upward trajectory, it's fair to say that we want to tackle 2025 season, trying to win both.
“Three months ago, I would say we are in a really strong trajectory compared to our competitors. But, and this is something that we have repeatedly said internally at McLaren, let's look at what Ferrari have been able to do: responding to some wobbles in the middle of the season, delivering a large amount of performance. And now they've had, in our knowledge, I think, the fastest car over the last few races of the season.
“Let's look at how much Red Bull have been able to keep delivering, even when the car wasn't necessarily the fastest car.
“And let's look at what Mercedes have been able to do in Vegas and occasionally delivering incredible performance, reliability and operations and so on.
“So the trajectory we've been having is kind of not enough if we want to genuinely be a contender in 2025 in both championships.
“This is the time not to be happy with our trajectory. This is the time to say that the level, the bar, needs to be raised.”
While a triumph in the constructors’ battle would be a huge achievement for McLaren this year, Stella admits that it is drivers’ crown that most people care about.
Asked which one he preferred to win, Stella said: “It is a very difficult question because it's like one of those where you have: who is your preferred child? They are all the same.
“I think people tend to remember the drivers’ championship more than the constructors' and I think in itself, potentially, the drivers’ championship is the ultimate that you want to achieve.
“But I think, and I'm already kind of committed to have made a preference, which I said I wouldn't, that this needs to be considered, though, within a timeline and a chronology.
“And if I think about the trajectory of McLaren, I think for where we are at the moment, the constructors’ championship is just an unbelievable quest, because obviously it's something that we can compete for, but there's still quite a long way to go. And it's just fantastic to be in this quest.
“It's interesting that when I talked at multiple times with the drivers during the season, Lando himself, he felt that for where we are, for our trajectory as a team, the constructors’ is more important now, like this is kind of the foundation you want to confirm and build if that makes sense.
“I always found it interesting this feedback from the drivers. They felt like we are building something together. So let's put this milestone on the ground, and then once things are in place, we can go for the drivers' [title].
“But I think with the drivers, we have to say that recently we have had [Lewis] Hamilton and [Max] Verstappen, the bar is incredibly high, and this requires the team to support the driver, because Lando has not been able to stay in the quest until the last race, because we as a team have not provided him with a fast enough car at the start of the season. After we developed the Miami upgrade, pretty much he is on par with Verstappen in terms of points.
“The team culture is a fundamental element to be able to maximize what you have available, but also to let the talent flourish and to allow the opportunity, and the missed opportunities in particular, to be reviewed - to learn and grow.”
McLaren has an opportunity in Qatar to win the constructors’ title already, if it finishes ahead of Ferrari.
It needs to leave the event with a 45-point advantage over its Maranello rival to be assured of the crown, with it currently 30 points clear following the sprint race.
Asked if McLaren would treat the race as normal, or it is more just about covering Ferrari, Stella said: “It is a normal race in which we want to maximize the points, and in which we want to deliver the fastest race pace, because at this circuit, the car with the best race pace will take the victory.
“We look ahead. We don't look behind. At the moment Ferrari is behind, I would expect them to be fast. They were very fast in the sprint, so I think dealing with Ferrari will be just because they are fast and they are starting right behind us.
“But in itself, our mindset is to do our own race, maximize the points and try to win it if we can."
