McLaren’s Nightmare Start to 2023: What Went Wrong and Where They Go from Here

McLaren entered the 2023 Formula 1 season with optimism, promising developments, and the fresh face of rookie Oscar Piastri. But that hope was quickly shattered in a disastrous opening race that showcased mechanical failures, strategic missteps, and fundamental design flaws. What was supposed to be a new chapter has rapidly become a cautionary tale. This article breaks down what went wrong for McLaren, why it happened, and what the future might hold for one of F1’s most storied teams.

A Catastrophic Opening Weekend

McLaren’s start to the 2023 season in Bahrain was nothing short of disastrous. Rookie Oscar Piastri was forced to retire due to an electronic issue, his debut ending in frustration. Meanwhile, Lando Norris had to pit six times due to persistent air pressure leaks in his car — a situation that turned his race into a glorified test session.

For a team with McLaren’s pedigree, this was unacceptable. Just a few seasons ago, McLaren was hailed as the “best of the rest,” grabbing podiums and even a race win in Monza in 2021. The contrast couldn’t be starker.

A Flawed Car From the Start

The MCL60, McLaren’s 2023 challenger, has been the main source of criticism. From poor tire degradation to recurring reliability issues, the car has shown that it’s not only uncompetitive but fundamentally flawed. According to team principal Andrea Stella, the issue that ended Piastri’s race was not with the steering wheel swap, but with deeper wiring faults in the electronics — an issue that is both complex and alarming in modern F1 standards.

Even worse, Lando Norris’s recurring pit stops were due to an air pressure leak that limited him to stints of just 10–11 laps. Instead of retiring the car, McLaren kept him on track, hoping for a miracle safety car — which never came. Norris, ever the professional, jokingly said at least the pit crew got plenty of practice. But under the humor was a deeper frustration.

Leadership Under Fire

Much of the criticism has landed on CEO Zak Brown, who now finds himself in arguably the most precarious position in the F1 paddock. Many fans and pundits question the overall direction of the team under his leadership — especially after the high-profile departure of Andreas Seidl, who left for Sauber/Audi, likely after losing faith in the McLaren project.

Brown’s decision to part ways with Daniel Ricciardo — paying the Australian a reported $15 million to leave — also looks increasingly questionable. Ricciardo was replaced by Piastri, a talented but inexperienced rookie. The underlying issue? Regardless of who’s in the cockpit, the car is simply not competitive.

A Tactical and Strategic Misfire

McLaren has openly admitted that they missed their design targets with the MCL60. Their car concept was fundamentally compromised by the late realization that their development direction was wrong. Technical Director James Key explained that the team’s performance woes began when they made changes to accommodate the FIA’s 15mm floor height adjustment — a rule introduced to combat porpoising.

This minor-sounding change had a significant impact on aerodynamics. While most teams managed to adapt, McLaren’s concept lost more downforce than anticipated. The team then decided — late in the development cycle — to change design direction altogether, hoping to recover performance by mid-season. But the damage had already been done. The team failed to prepare their updated spec in time for Bahrain and instead pinned their hopes on future upgrades, expected around Baku.

Oscar Piastri: Regretting His Decision?

Oscar Piastri, one of the most highly rated rookies in recent F1 history, might already be questioning his choice. The young Australian famously chose McLaren over a more stable seat at Alpine, believing McLaren offered a better long-term project. But instead of launching his career with a competitive machine, he’s been thrown into a team in crisis.

The juxtaposition is painful: while Piastri retired due to mechanical failure, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly surged from the back of the grid to finish ninth, showcasing the kind of drive Piastri might have had if he’d made a different decision.

Lando Norris: Loyal, but for How Long?

Lando Norris has long been viewed as a McLaren golden boy — quick, loyal, and full of potential. But even his patience has limits. After years of carrying the team, Norris now faces the prospect of another wasted season, despite being in the prime of his career.

While he stayed remarkably upbeat in interviews, praising the raw pace of the MCL60 (when it worked), it’s clear that his loyalty is being tested. If McLaren can’t deliver a competitive car soon, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Norris look elsewhere, especially with potential vacancies opening at top teams in the coming years.

The Bigger Picture: How Did It Get This Bad?

How did McLaren fall so far, so quickly?

Late development choices: McLaren’s pivot in car concept came too late in 2022 to prepare the right package for 2023.

Ineffective leadership transition: Losing Andreas Seidl left a vacuum that Andrea Stella is still trying to fill.

Technical stagnation: While other teams pushed aggressive designs, McLaren remained conservative — and paid the price.

Limited preseason testing: Without enough mileage, many of the car’s issues weren’t identified until it was too late.

According to James Key, if McLaren had pivoted their design even four weeks earlier, they might not be in this mess.

Looking Ahead: Is There Hope?

The team is now banking on major upgrades — both in the form of a new wind tunnel facility and an in-season upgrade package. However, those improvements aren’t expected to make a real difference until 2024. For the remainder of 2023, McLaren’s drivers and fans may have to endure more pain.

Still, there’s a flicker of optimism. The new development path, though late, shows promise in simulations. And if the team can learn from its mistakes and execute its new direction effectively, there’s hope for recovery.

Final Thoughts

McLaren’s 2023 season began not with a roar but with a whimper — or perhaps more accurately, the hiss of leaking air pressure and the silence of a car that wouldn’t restart. For a team that once battled for championships, this fall from grace has been both shocking and painful.

While the leadership claims to be steering the ship back on course, time is running out. Piastri’s future, Norris’s loyalty, and the patience of the fans all hang in the balance. The rest of 2023 will be a test not just of engineering, but of resilience, vision, and leadership.

Will McLaren rise from the ashes, or is this the beginning of a long and slow decline? Only time — and results — will tell.

Full Video: