McLaren focuses on long term: 'It could take a few years'

McLaren admitted at the start of the new Formula 1 season that it had gone in the wrong direction, but Mika Hakkinen fears it could take some time for his former team to recover.

McLaren already tempered expectations for the 2023 F1 season ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix. The team with Andrea Stella and Zak Brown at the helm underperformed in the winter test, a line that was carried through to the opening race at the Bahrain International Circuit.

That race ended in disappointment for the Woking-based team, which saw Oscar Piastri retire with a technical problem and Lando Norris, also plagued by problems, cross the finishing line last.

McLaren focuses on the long term

"I don't think McLaren has built up very high expectations for the team this year," Hakkinen stated in conversation with Unibet. The 54-year-old Finn, who twice won the world title with the team, thinks McLaren will eventually come out on top thanks to huge financial support from sponsors.

Still, he fears it will take some time for his former team to regain its competitive form. "It may take a few years for them to deliver that result," Hakkinen continued. "They are in it for the long run and have good partners. This year can deliver some results, but I think the true performance will be seen in a few years."

It will not be down to the drivers, according to the two-time world champion. For Piastri, he sees a perfect environment to develop himself as a driver, while in Norris he sees a talent of the calibre of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. "He is a very quick young driver who has shown convincing results constantly," said Hakkinen. "He is super talented and is on the same level as Leclerc, Verstappen and Sainz. He's on a very high level speed-wise."