McLaren’s dominant tire management from the 2024 and 2025 F1 seasons hasn't translated to the new 2026 regulations, a critical weakness exposed at the scorching Barcelona Grand Prix. Last year, Team Principal Andrea Stella was confident McLaren’s expertise in tire interaction would carry over, even amidst a regulatory overhaul. However, the Spanish heat highlighted Ferrari's superior degradation, while Lando Norris only salvaged third due to a retirement, and Oscar Piastri struggled for pace, finishing a distant fifth.
Stella admits McLaren isn't as competitive in tire conditioning as before. He attributes this to the seismic shift of the new regulations, which required a complete car redesign and a "reset" in development priorities, delaying the fine-tuning of tire performance. Regaining this crucial strength is now a "very clear objective" for the Woking team, as they begin to hone their approach. Their championship hopes depend on it.
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