McLaren chasing a more balanced 2022 car

McLaren technical director James Key says that the team is looking for a more balanced car for this season compared to what they had in recent years.

The Woking-based outfit had a solid 2021 season, their first with Mercedes power with Daniel Ricciardo taking the team’s first victory since 2012 at last season’s Italian Grand Prix, leading home a McLaren 1-2 finish with Lando Norris.

The outfit had a great season-long battle with Ferrari but missed out to the Italian team in the race to finish P3 in the Constructors’ Championship.

The MCL35 was very fast on high-speed circuits such as Monza, however, the team struggled on the low-speed tracks like Monaco.

Formula 1 has introduced a raft of new regulations for this season in a bid to allow cars to follow each other closer and encourage a greater number of overtaking opportunities.

The Covid-19 pandemic meant that teams completed last season with the cars that they had in 2020, and speaking to Motosport.com, McLaren technical director James Key said: “We did pay a lot of attention to drag on the 2020 car, and as we did for the ’19 car, that was a bit before my time, but I know that was a priority for that car and it all carried through.

Horner selects his rising stars in F1

Wolff concedes Mercedes ‘misjudged’ 2021’s minor floor tweaks

Pundits say Sainz doesn’t get the credit ‘he deserves’

Perez pushed by Verstappen and the media

Hamilton’s silence is part of ‘the drama’

Ferrari predict fewer in-season developments in 2022

Horner: Mercedes left Hamilton exposed in season finale

Kimi Raikkonen will be sorely missed

Schumacher's surprise admission on rookie season

Biggest rule change in F1 history, says Allison

Alfa hope to benefit from Zhou’s popularity in China

Second title