McLaren has stood out as the most improved team in the 2023 season, with a significant transformation from being positioned at the back of the field to securing double podiums for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in both Qatar and Japan. This resurgence has propelled McLaren up the Constructors’ standings, putting them just 11 points behind Aston Martin.
However, the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) layout may pose a unique challenge for McLaren. While the team introduced upgrades in Singapore to enhance their performance in low-speed corners, their strength has traditionally been in high-speed circuits. Lando Norris expressed reservations about the upcoming weekend, particularly due to the prevalence of slower corners at COTA.
In Norris’s words, “Not so confident… a lot more slow-speed corners, which is not our strength.” He acknowledged that McLaren performed well in Singapore, even though they were not as dominant as Ferrari on that type of circuit. However, he believes that Mercedes, Ferrari, and Aston Martin are likely to be strong contenders at COTA.
Norris further highlighted their successful outing in Qatar, which favored medium and high-speed corners where they were competitive with Red Bull. In contrast, COTA offers fewer opportunities for their high-speed advantage, shifting the balance towards a greater challenge.
Oscar Piastri shared Norris’s perspective, pointing out that the upgrades brought by other teams to the Texas track might influence the competition. Piastri noted that McLaren’s performance may not match the levels seen in the past few weekends. He also mentioned Mercedes’ upgrades, suggesting that the fight at COTA could involve closer competition with Ferrari and Mercedes.
In essence, McLaren is aware of the unique demands that COTA presents, with its abundance of slower corners. The team may face a stiffer challenge, but they remain determined to put up a fight.
