McLaren’s Unconventional Floor Strategy
McLaren’s decision to maintain a consistent floor design throughout the 2024 F1 season while focusing on incremental changes to other parts of the car has sparked interest in the team’s approach to upgrades and car development. As the MCL38 has become one of the most competitive cars in recent races, the question arises: could McLaren’s strategy redefine how teams pursue upgrades in F1?
Traditionally, the floor of an F1 car plays a crucial role in generating downforce due to the way it manipulates airflow and ground effect. As a result, most teams have spent considerable resources this season on developing new floor designs to maximize downforce and performance.
However, McLaren broke away from this trend by sticking with the same floor concept that debuted at the Miami Grand Prix, avoiding the temptation to chase short-term performance gains through major floor overhauls.
Will McLaren’s floor strategy
Instead, McLaren’s approach has centered on refining smaller, more strategic elements across the car. The focus has been on upgrading the front and rear wings, beam wings, brake ducts, bodywork, and suspension components, resulting in a more cohesive package that improves the overall balance and drivability of the car.
