Why McLaren Struggled to Repeat F1 Singapore GP 2024 Victory

A Mixed Performance in Singapore for McLaren

After two challenging grands prix on circuits that didn’t suit the MCL39’s characteristics, the Singapore Grand Prix was expected to be a turning point for McLaren. The team had high hopes of making a strong statement and countering the growing threat from Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen.

Marina Bay was seen as the ideal track for McLaren to showcase its strengths. Last year, the Woking-based team dominated the race, winning by over 20 seconds. This year, given the championship’s dynamics, it was anticipated that the same qualities would allow McLaren to compete for victory once again.

The race featured high temperatures, soft tires that required careful management due to significant thermal degradation, and corners that demanded precise front-end handling. It wasn’t a coincidence that Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, had emphasized Marina Bay as an opportunity for redemption and a return to form.

However, the result was not what the team had hoped for. McLaren finished in third and fourth place, which left a bittersweet feeling after the team had secured their constructors’ championship. So, what went wrong?

Understanding the Anomaly

To uncover the real issue behind McLaren’s lack of dominance in Singapore, we need to look back at Friday’s practice sessions. Lando Norris admitted he hadn’t found the right feel with the car, especially on the softer tires. He had previously been able to dominate both qualifying and the race in 2024, but this time, there was a noticeable lack of confidence in the front end.

Stella explained that from the start of the season, Norris had mentioned difficulties with the front of the car. “We keep having comments that highlight that the change of tires from last year to this year plays a role,” he said. “Last year, our drivers were more comfortable in Singapore, but this year, from the first free practice, they made comments about the behavior of the front tires—especially on the soft compound.”

This is a key factor in understanding what the MCL39 was missing during the weekend. It wasn’t so much about race pace, but rather in qualifying and overall grand prix management. The layout of Marina Bay, with its braking zones and traction areas, makes front-end precision crucial. However, the circuit’s sequence of close corners and bends, which aren’t always 90 degrees, requires precise handling.

In terms of minimum corner speed, both McLaren drivers tried to make a difference. This data supports Stella’s remarks that the MCL39 still gained on rivals mid-corner, but not by the usual margin. The problem appeared in the final phase of cornering, where Norris and Piastri couldn’t push or rotate the car as desired, hindered by poor front-end feel.

The underlying issue was that with the softer compound, McLaren’s drivers couldn’t exploit the extra grip. What should have been a strength turned into a weakness. It seemed as if the tire struggled to stay within its operating window, and the narrow temperature range and greater movement of the soft tire in corners—generating more heat—caused instability for the MCL39.

Medium and Hard Tyres Bring Balance

Meanwhile, with the more stable medium and hard tires, the car regained balance and effectiveness, particularly in the race. Norris confirmed he felt much more comfortable on the harder compounds.

“I feel where there’s more lap time out of it, on the medium tires this weekend, I’ve always felt very comfortable,” he said. “The mediums have often had more front end, and it just suits me. I can get more lap time out of it. It feels more reminiscent of last year, and the feelings I want from the car I put the soft on, and I just struggle again.”

“There’s still lingering feelings of the car just not performing. I can’t say in the right way because we’ve been very quick all season, but we’ve also struggled here this weekend. Those issues and the issues I’ve had this year, which is the front of the car, seem to have arisen again this weekend.”

A Reminder of Small Details

Singapore, therefore, revealed another side of McLaren’s performance: even though the team has reached technical maturity to secure the constructors’ title well ahead of time, in specific situations—even on ‘friendly’ circuits—the MCL39 still struggles to perform at its best, especially when the margin over its rivals narrows.

It’s a reminder that even in a dominant season, small details can still make the difference.