Why does McLaren continue to suffer from fluctuations in form on different race tracks?

McLaren CEO Zak Brown recently highlighted the reasons behind his team's fluctuations in form from track to track. The Woking-based team managed to find decent pace in Baku but has been quite poor overall this season, putting them on the back foot compared to their rivals.

Having launched an underdeveloped car at the start of the year, the British team took a step backwards while their rivals made progress. As a result, the team is currently considered a backmarker, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri having finished 17th and 19th, respectively, in Miami.

The team has amassed a total of 14 points so far this year and is currently well behind targets. However, the team showed promising signs in Baku, with Lando Norris securing a ninth-place finish.

When asked about the fluctuations experienced by McLaren this year, Zak Brown told the F1 Nation podcast:

"I think race cars can be temperamental in their characteristics. Obviously, the great race cars are good in all conditions. We have a car that doesn't like a lot of heat, it's kinda rear limited. Miami was hot and was a new circuit, and lacked some grip as a new circuit would. So, Miami was a circuit like Bahrain that just doesn't suit our car."

"Early indications are we've got a future world champion on our hands" - McLaren boss praises Oscar Piastri

McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes Oscar Piastri has the potential to be a world champion in the future, following his remarkable performance at the beginning of the 2023 season.

Despite not amassing an abundance of points during his impressive start, the Australian driver, who made a highly publicized transition to McLaren, has proven his ability to compete with elite drivers. So far, Piastri has secured only four points in 2023, but has shown incredible potential.

As per Sky Sports, Brown said of McLaren's Oscar Piastri:

"Oscar has been impressive since we've had him in the car. He's very mature. He's very focused and he's very technical. So the combination of Lando and Oscar, I couldn't think of a better combination of drivers. Oscar has done a fantastic job and he's trading lap times with Lando now and that's what you want."

"He's not really made certainly not any big mistakes. Typical exploring the limits so the odd lock of a wheel here and there but yeah, he's not been to all these races so early indications are we've got a future world champion on our hands. We just have to work to give him a faster car now."

Piastri's true level will be clear when the team is able to provide him with a car capable of fighting for regular points.