McLaren’s MCL40 finished 0.8 seconds slower than Mercedes’ George Russell in Baku qualifying, confirming that the team lags behind its power‑unit rivals on high‑speed circuits despite recent upgrades.
Performance Gap Explained
The 6 km Baku circuit, characterized by long straights and minimal low‑speed corners, proved a poor match for McLaren. While the MCL40 excelled in energies on narrow chicanes, it struggled both in low‑downforce corners and top‑speed runs. In qualifying, Russell’s sector‑two deployment was superior, and on the main straight he out‐sped Oscar Piastri by up to 10 km/h. During the race, a double safety car bunched the field, setting the stage for a close finish between Russell and Verstappen.
Aerodynamic and Mechanical Shortfalls
McLaren’s largest handicap was the car’s shorter gearing than Mercedes, limiting engine power utilisation on high‑speed sections. Technical director Neil Houldey noted that the MCL40, “shifts less into lower gears around corners, which can encroach upon restarts.” Andrea Stella admitted that the team had yet to optimise the power unit for race conditions, a shortfall that became apparent when the MCL40 paid a price during the race as the car was “not fast enough in the straights.” The upgrades aimed at more efficient downforce had added lap time but did not address the fundamental low‑speed weakness.
Driver Incidents and Tyre Issues
Lando Norris, who had shown a strong summer run, lost three positions after a fight‑line clash with Pierre Gasly at Turn 1. The incident, compounded by a fuel‑injection glitch that kept the team under‑powered in qualifying, returned in the race and left Norris with a medium‑tyre deficit. After forming the first overtaking line, Norris’s lock‑up on the restart was triggered by a mistake on his own, revealing inconsistency in driver performance. Meanwhile, Piastri’s own lock‑up at Turn 1 later in the event cost him a podium and dragged him to 13th place.
Management Comments and Future Adjustments
Stella highlighted that “it is not a single factor.” He explained that while the team had improved its interaction with Mercedes HPP and the power unit, the aerodynamic drag and gearing still need review. The club opted to forgo its mid‑season “joker” gearing change in favour of other developments. “We’ll consider re‑ratioing to close the gap to Mercedes,” Houldey said, noting that “small lap‑time gains add up.”
Although McLaren will use the lessons from Baku to fine‑tune its package, the contest will remain contingent on both aerodynamic overhauls and power‑unit optimisation, as the team strives to secure a race win at the next high‑speed venue.
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