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McLaren faced significant challenges during the Dutch Grand Prix Sprint at Zandvoort, with both drivers experiencing unexpected rear tyre degradation that Team Principal Andrea Stella believes stems from factors beyond tyre selection. While competitors like Ferrari successfully employed the soft compound, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri struggled with their medium tyres throughout the shortened race, prompting Stella to investigate the root cause of the performance drop.
Stella acknowledged that the medium compound was the appropriate choice for most of the field and dismissed rubber quality as the culprit. Instead, he directed attention toward the team’s setup and driving techniques, suggesting these variables may have contributed to the accelerated tyre wear. Telemetry and radio communications revealed the problems surfaced early, with both drivers reporting difficulties managing the rear axle pressure from mid-race onward.
Despite the Sprint setback, Stella noted McLaren maintains competitive qualifying performance and excels with fresh rubber. The team’s immediate priority is identifying and resolving the degradation issues before Sunday’s main event. With several setup adjustments and driving style optimizations to explore, Stella expressed determination to reverse the situation for the Grand Prix, setting a clear objective to improve performance across the full race distance.
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Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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