Miami reset could open McLaren’s best shot yet
Former IndyCar driver and F1 TV presenter James Hinchcliffe believes the Miami Grand Prix could represent McLaren’s strongest opportunity yet to challenge Mercedes this season. He described the event as “almost like a restart to the season,” pointing to the extended break, available data from the opening rounds, and the wave of upgrades expected across the grid.
Key Highlights
- James Hinchcliffe believes Miami offers McLaren their best chance yet to challenge Mercedes after a mid-season reset and major upgrades
- The extended break and regulation tweaks could reshuffle the pecking order, with all top teams expected to bring significant updates
- McLaren will introduce a near-complete car upgrade in Miami, a track where they have historically performed strongly
- Analysts Hinchcliffe and Jolyon Palmer agree the weekend could be a key indicator of whether McLaren can realistically fight for the title this season
Mercedes still a benchmark in Miami
Hinchcliffe warned that Mercedes cannot be ruled out, noting their strong historical pace at the circuit and highlighting Kimi Antonelli’s impressive performance there last year. He added that McLaren are “as good a shot as anyone in the top three teams,” but stressed that the competitive order could still shift depending on how upgrades perform.
McLaren banking on major upgrade package
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has confirmed the team will bring what is effectively a near-complete car upgrade to Miami, a track where they have won in the past two seasons. Hinchcliffe believes this timing could be crucial, especially with multiple teams introducing significant updates after the mid-season reset.
Palmer: Miami could define McLaren’s season trajectory
Co-host and former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer echoed the optimism, saying McLaren have deliberately targeted Miami as a key development milestone after a demanding start to the season.
“They feel confident heading to this race. All the talk is new car,” Palmer said, adding that the extended practice time and Mercedes power unit progress could be decisive. He concluded that Miami may reveal whether McLaren can truly fight for the title: “If they don’t make enough strides here, then I don’t think they’ll catch up over the year.”
