Why Qatar should be McLaren’s best chance of winning in F1 2023
McLaren’s best chance of winning
On paper, the Losail circuit in Qatar suiﷺts McLarenౠ’s car to a tee.
It’s full of high-speed, sweeping corners, with fewer lower speed corners than Suzuka - where McLare✱n were comfortably the second-fastest team behind Red Bull.
So in the fight for second behind Red Bull, it’s hard to see a situ🦩ation where McLaren aren’t ahead of the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes thi𒀰s weekend.
But how close can they get to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen and Red Bull?
The lack of low-𒉰speed corners works in their fav♌our as that continues to be an area where McLaren lose out.
One factor that may work in 🐻McLaren’s favour is that it’s a sprint weekend meaning there✃’s just one practice session ahead of qualifying.
Mercedes managed to topple Red꧒ Bull at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last year after the runaway champions failed to nail their car setup in the 60 minutes of running.
Similarly, Red Bull struggled to get the RB19 into the right window in Singapore, allowing 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Carlos Sainz to take Ferrari’s first victory in over a year.
Red Bull are no doubt the hea🦄vy favourites but it looks like McLaren will be even closer tᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚhan usual.
Verstappen’s title coronation
Verstappen will become a three-time F1 champion at this weekend’s Qatar GP.
He only needs a sixth-place finish in the 🀅Saturday sprint to wra𒐪p up this year’s title.
Christian Horner dismissed concerns over the unusual prospect that Verstappen would win the title on a Saturday - ♛rather than the usual Sunday - due to the sprint format.
"We don't care when we win it - as long as we win it,” he said. "It's about getting that trophy, getting🌠 that third title to his name.
The fact that it's done in Qatar on a Saturday eveꦓning would make Sunday even more enjoyable to go into that grand prix, if he achieves it, ꦚas a three-time world champion. So I don't think it really matters."
Lawson’s final outing
Qatar is likely to be 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Liam Lawson’s final outing until 2025 with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Daniel Ricciardo set to make a comeback from injury.
Lawson has impressed since making his F1 debut at the Dutch Grand Prix, with many questioning why he isn’t ⛎on the grid for next year.
AlphaTauri have opte🉐d to stick with Tsunoda, while new CEO Peter Bayer wanted experience hence why Ricciardo gets a full season with the t🌺eam.
Lawson’s last hope is Willia🎃ms - who are still unsure about Logan Sargeant.
He has one last chance to impress this weekend.
With a sharp eye for F1’s controversies and storylines, Connor iღs the heartbeat of our unbiased ඣreporting.
