
McLaren on Red Bull's Improved Performance: Verstappen's Sprint Pole Confirms RB21 Advancements
Summary
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella confirms Red Bull's RB21 has significantly improved, citing Max Verstappen's sprint pole at the United States Grand Prix as key evidence. Stella acknowledged that Red Bull is now competitive on all track types, capable of fighting for wins and poles. Despite this, McLaren remains optimistic for the races ahead, especially with anticipated high tire degradation at COTA, which traditionally suits their car.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledges that Max Verstappen's sprint pole position at the United States Grand Prix is clear evidence of significant improvements to Red Bull's RB21 car. This comes after recent rounds on diverse track profiles, with the medium-speed Circuit of the Americas serving as a crucial test for their updated package.
Why it matters:
- Red Bull's continuous development, particularly the updated floor introduced at the Italian Grand Prix, has been a game-changer.
- This has not only propelled Verstappen back into consistent victory contention but also given him a long-shot chance at an unprecedented fifth consecutive F1 drivers' championship.
- The direct competition between McLaren and Red Bull at different track types highlights the evolving competitive landscape of the 2024 season.
The details:
- RB21 Enhancements: The upgraded floor and revised internal working methods have profoundly impacted Red Bull's performance.
- COTA Performance: Verstappen secured sprint pole, being seven-hundredths of a second faster than Lando Norris's McLaren MCL39.
- McLaren's View: Andrea Stella stated, "It confirms that Red Bull have definitely improved their car. They are competitive now and can fight for victories and pole position on every kind of circuit."
- Previous Encounters: Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies had previously noted McLaren "killed" his team at the medium-downforce challenge in Zandvoort, but Stella believes this is no longer the case.
- McLaren's Optimism: Despite missing pole, Stella expressed satisfaction with McLaren's competitiveness at COTA, a track where they had previously struggled. He sees it as a "good foundation for the sprint race, and also a good foundation to see where we can fine-tune a little bit of performance."
Between the lines:
- Stella's comments underscore the dynamic nature of F1 development, where a single upgrade can dramatically shift the competitive balance.
- The acknowledgment from a rival team principal like Stella lends significant weight to the perception of Red Bull's improvements, moving beyond mere speculation.
What's next:
- Tyre Degradation Factor: Stella anticipates higher tyre degradation at COTA due to hot temperatures, a factor that traditionally favors McLaren's car.
- Pirelli's Compound Choice: Pirelli's decision to jump compounds between hard and medium for only the second time this season is expected to exacerbate degradation, potentially playing further into McLaren's hands.
- Entertaining Races Ahead: "I would expect here that the race or the sprint may be more entertaining, and there could be more variability based on the behaviour of the tyres," Stella commented, looking forward to the sprint race.
Original Article :https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-highlight-red-bull-evidence-in-max-verstappen-...