McLaren has a clear goal.

The second oldest racing team in Formula 1 wants to go back to where it hasn't been since 2012: to the group of contenders for victory.

So far, the direction is correct.

The low point in 2017 with ninth place in the constructors' championship was followed by places six, four and three.

At the end of 2019, a McLaren driver even stood on the podium for the first time in six years.

In the Corona year 2020, McLaren halved the gap to the top.

The team improved in all disciplines.

Aerodynamics, reliability, the interaction between the factory and the racetrack, the reliability of the wind tunnel data, simulations, pit stops, racing strategy.

The next piece of the puzzle in the renovation of the dinosaur was the switch from Renault to Mercedes engines.

According to internal calculations, it takes two tenths of a second per lap.

Lando Norris confirmed the upward trend in 2021 with two third places in Imola and Monte Carlo.

The battle for the bronze medal among the designers has become clearer.

A revitalized sense of togetherness

Last season, six teams were still hoping for the best place behind Mercedes and Red Bull. Now it's just McLaren and Ferrari. But the Italians have again become a strong opponent. "At the moment they are a tad better than us," says Norris. Team boss Andreas Seidl could live with fourth place in the end. “It is important that we continue our own marching plan and improve in all areas. We have no influence on the strength of our opponents. "

The resurrection of the brand, which has been racing in Formula 1 since 1966 and has won 182 grands prix since then, began with new structures, a revitalized sense of togetherness and the realization that old successes cannot buy anything. Even a brief alarm when McLaren slipped into a financial crisis in the first major lockdown did not throw company boss Zak Brown and his governor Andreas Seidl off track.

The sale of the factory, in which McLaren is now only a tenant, and new partners give the racing team a basis with which to operate. The workforce was reduced to 700 employees. This means that the current third in the world championship is pretty much exactly on the budget cap of $ 149.8 million. Which is one more reason for Zak Brown to sell McLaren as the team of the future: “We are already where the big teams have to go. They have to go back and that will weaken them. "

The McLaren MCL35M has gotten rid of some of the weaknesses of its predecessor. Nonetheless, Seidl demands: “We still have to work on the slow corners.” These are precisely the territory of rival Ferrari, which loses time on the straights and fast corners against McLaren. Despite a rear wing that bends backwards under load. Ferrari is still lagging behind market leader Mercedes by 20 hp.

McLaren is working with Mercedes to ensure that the stricter rear wing load tests apply from the race in Baku on this Sunday (2 p.m. CEST in the FAZ live ticker for Formula 1 and Sky F1) and not only with the race in France two weeks. “On a stretch with such long straights as in Baku, that makes an advantage of half a second. It is unacceptable to wait with the new rule, ”says Seidl. In the price range in which McLaren is now playing again, there are no more gifts.

Development for the MCL35M is complete.

Everything that is new to the car has already passed through the wind tunnel loop.

From now on, the 2022 model has priority.

"It's just too important because technically it will be a completely new beginning," says Seidl.

Then McLaren wants to win races again.

It's a historic opportunity because of the budget cap.

For the first time, the three richer teams Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari are working with the same resources.

With its two drivers, McLaren has a good mix of young and old. What promised a perfect combination is still waiting to be confirmed on the racetrack.

There is the 21-year-old Lando Norris, who is currently outpacing the second Mercedes and Red Bull drivers and who is driving his way into the league of future world champions with his performances.

There is 31-year-old Daniel Ricciardo, who, despite 193 GP starts and seven GP victories, struggles to make friends with his new car. Norris has risen to become the secret team captain in just three years. “Lando worked hard over the winter to better analyze the car, the processes and himself. That is why he can now take on more responsibility in the team, ”says Seidl.

The McLaren requires a very special driving style, according to the consensus of drivers and engineers, and that is the driving style of Norris. Ricciardo desperately: “It takes too long to have confidence in the car and understand it, until I know where the limit is. If I think I've found the key, the next race track will come and everything will be different again. ”In Barcelona, ​​the former Renault driver was consistently faster than Norris for the first time. Two weeks later in Monte Carlo he was missing a second per lap. “I'm more frustrated than confused. Two tenths can be explained, but where is the rest? ”Says Ricciardo

Team boss Seidl backs the Australian: “Lando knows the team, car and processes inside out. This is a huge advantage with this complex car. Daniel wants to catch up on that in a crash course. But there is no shortcut on this path. "