F1: McLaren's stunning bounce back is unlike anything the paddock has seen in recent years
F1: McLaren's stunning bounce back is unlike anything the paddock has seen in recent years
While Red Bull has won every race of the 2023 Formula 1 season, there's no team more compelling than McLaren right now.
The Woking Team began the season among F1's bottom feeders, but in the last four races Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been consistently finishing well within the points, combining for five top-five finishes.
It's not unheard of for a team to upgrade its cars over the course of the season, but McLaren's move from a cellar-dweller to occasionally nipping at Red Bull's heels is tough to fathom. The MCL60 is an entirely different beast than it was during the year due to changes to the underfloor, sidepods, and front wing.
The differences are subtle to the untrained eye — in part due to to fact that the underfloor upgrades might be the most significant, but aren't visible outside of the floor edge profiles — but the change in results is undeniable.
Since these adjustments starting rolling out at the Austrian Grand Prix, McLaren has more points (86) than any team besides Red Bull, outscoring Mercedes (80), Ferrari (69), and Aston Martin (42).
They could be even further ahead of the pack if Piastri hadn't been knocked out of the Belgian Grand Prix on the first lap after qualifying fifth.
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