Oscar Piastri believes that McLaren is a serious contender for the title this year.

Since (and including) Miami, the Woking outfit has scored 116 points, compared to Red Bull's 106, Ferrari's 101 and Mercedes 72.

No matter how you look at it, McLaren is on a roll. Indeed, in only his second season, Piastri believes the Woking squad can genuinely challenge for the title.

"It'd be tough, definitely, but I think we're in the fight," he said. "I think we scored the most points this weekend (Canada) as a team, not by much, but it's definitely a really good result for us.

"We've both been very consistent in the last few weekends," he added, referring to he and his teammate Lando Norris, who won in Miami, "and I think across some very different circuits; we've been strong at all of them.

"Still some things to tidy up," he admitted, "and we're talking about little things, but when you're fighting for championships, little things go a long way.

"It's going to be very tough and obviously Red Bull has got a bit of a head start, and I don't know how far behind Ferrari we are now. I definitely think we're in the mix, but it'll be a big second half of the year to make it happen."

89 points down on the world champions, McLaren is just 49 down on Ferrari and 88 ahead of Mercedes.

Other than pace, reliability is McLaren's strong point, the Woking outfit getting both of its drivers to the flag in every race and only failing to score points on one occasion, Piastri's 13th in Miami.

The MCL38 is bullet-proof and as a result, McLaren is the only team where both drivers have completed every single one of the season's 542 laps thus far.

However, in order to maintain the pressure the Woking outfit will need to introduce a regular programme of updates, however team boss Andrea Stella warns that though these will continue, we will not see the sort of wide ranging package as witnessed in Miami.

"For the coming races, we will have some upgrades," he said, "but they won't be a single kind of big upgrade like we have seen over the last 12 months. "More individual components where we found a little bit of performance and rather than waiting to deploy everything together once ready we take it track side.

"So I won't say what but we will see some new stuff coming over the few coming races."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 16/06/2024 2:10

"@ BillH...thanks for the response and your take on the matter. Teams, to a very large degree, are commercial constructs, run under the guise of embracing a competetive sport. The sporty garagistes of yesteryear, in it for the fun and glory, are nowhere top be seen in the modern era. The corporate entity, in some cases, carries emotional baggage from their past and present achievements garnered largely from the human element involved. Ferrari are the most prominent. Teams are only made famous by their drivers/principals/designers, who write the story of their success ...or failure to visit the podium regularly."

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2. Posted by BillH, 15/06/2024 5:42

"@kenji, I'm the opposite where I support the team rather than the drivers however I have a huge appreciation for what the drivers do and do appreciate some more than others.
Thinking about what Andreas Stella has mentioned regarding upgrades, it could be that McLaren have fired their upgrade shots earlier than other teams with upcoming Grands Prix showing improvement for other teams.
Such is the way with a prototype series and budget cap."

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3. Posted by kenji, 15/06/2024 2:19

""Think positive' is a great attribute so long as it doesn't come back and bite you...where it hurts. Oscar has shown the potential of the team when fielding two competetive cars with seriously fast and reliable drivers. They have the stats to back their claims and hopefully they will improve even further during the balance of this season. The only embarrassment to the team is Brown's ceaseless attempts to destabilise Red Bull with his constant sniping and claims of 'toxicity' within the team!. Whilst McLaren have never been a team that i have supported, as I don't do teams, just drivers, I would love to see them leading this championship. "

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4. Posted by Wokingchap, 14/06/2024 11:34

"Bullit proof indeed, and " is the only team where both drivers have completed every single one of the season's 542 laps thus far"....... great stuff and applause worthy.
Well done keep it up guys."

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"We're in the mix," declares Piastri

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