McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella singled out Red Bull's "smart and innovative" sidepod design as a significant differentiator in F1's current development race. Stella observed the unique concept at the Miami Grand Prix, where McLaren itself enjoyed a strong weekend, bringing major upgrades that saw Lando Norris win the Sprint and finish second in the Grand Prix.
Stella highlighted Red Bull's approach diverges significantly from concepts adopted by Mercedes, Ferrari, and even McLaren. He sees F1 design in an "interesting phase," far from any convergence where all cars look similar. Red Bull's clever use of legality concessions to implement their sidepod geometry makes their solution particularly noteworthy. This suggests a period where rival teams will closely analyze and likely test elements of Red Bull's design. The technical battle is heating up, with teams pushing distinct philosophies. Expect more design surprises as the season progresses and the development war intensifies, especially with the 2025 regulations looming.
Read the full story at formula1.com