Dramatic Lando Norris change explained as McLaren secrets spilled by F1 chief

08 December 2023 , 18:15

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McLaren ended the 2023 F1 season much happier than when they started it (Image: AP)

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has picked out the major mid-season move which thrust Lando Norris into regular podium contention.

The Brit started 2023 nowhere near that particular fight. The team missed development targets on its MCL60 and had one of the slowest cars on the grid in the opening rounds of the season.

But their fortunes changed from the moment the first significant upgrade was put on track in Austria. The changes made to Norris' car that weekend propelled him up the timesheets and, when team-mate Oscar Piastri was given the same boost a week later, he too was suddenly scoring points for fun.

Stella has been reflecting on his first season in charge of the Woking-based squad. And he feels the early changes he made to the organisation of the aerodynamics department were critical in setting up the team for its dramatic upturn in form.

"The technical restructuring was a fundamental enabler," the Italian told Motorsport.com, explaining that there is still more to come in that regard. "The restructuring itself includes people that actually haven't started yet.

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"If we talk about the new technical configuration, which includes three technical directors, two of them haven't started yet. It was Peter Prodromou in charge of aero, David Sanchez in charge of performance and concepts, Rob Marshall in charge of engineering and design.

"Effectively, this structure has given clarity on the responsibilities and has allowed also - and it was essential in the short term - to restructure the aerodynamic department, putting Peter Prodromou in charge, supporting Giuseppe Pesce, these guys have been absolutely instrumental in setting the new direction for the design of the car from an aerodynamic point of view."

While the impact of Prodromou's work has already been felt, the other two technical chiefs mentioned by Stella are still on gardening leave. Ex- Red Bull designer Marshall and Sanchez, former Ferrari chief engineer, start at McLaren in January.

So the improvements made this year are solely thanks to the work put in by those already working for the team, to whom Stella paid tribute. He added: "This has been the enabler to use the talent that was already available at McLaren, because the people that physically design the geometries are the same people.

"But unleashing their talent by giving clear direction, making clear objectives, and also trying to make sure that empowerment and enthusiasm are the foundation of how we deal with people. This has been instrumental. And that's also how we are trying to get into the future."

Daniel Moxon