McLaren Team Principal Disagrees with Perceived Underperformance in Imola

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has expressed disagreement with the notion that his team underperformed in the recent Imola Grand Prix, likening the comparison to “apples and pears.” Oscar Piastri secured pole position at Imola ahead of Max Verstappen, but Red Bull appeared to have the upper hand over during the race, with superior tire management.

Different Tracks, Different Performance

In the Red Bull camp, there was a suggestion that both their own upgrades and McLaren‘s underperformance played a part in the dramatic turnaround since Miami. However, when asked about ‘s performance, Stella argued that the comparison between Imola and Miami is not valid due to the vastly different circuit layouts.

Imola belongs to the category of tracks like Saudi Arabia and Japan, characterized by high-speed corners and narrow tracks. In these types of circuits, Red Bull has traditionally excelled, as evidenced by their pole position in Saudi Arabia (had it not been for a penalty for Verstappen, he would have won the race).

When comparing McLaren‘s performance in Japan and Saudi Arabia with that in Imola, Stella maintains that the picture is consistent. However, comparing the race in Imola with the race in Miami is like comparing apples to pears, according to Stella. Miami is a low-speed dominated circuit, where has made significant improvements due to their aerodynamic investments.

The Unique Case of Monaco

Stella suggested that Monaco, the next race on the calendar, is a unique case, which he likened to a peach. He hinted that Ferrari might take the lead in Monaco, but expressed curiosity about how other races will pan out.

Stella also implied that some teams may be trying to create unnecessary pressure on McLaren by exaggerating Red Bull’s advantage, regardless of the circuit. He encouraged fans to focus on the technical aspects of the sport rather than getting caught up in speculation and rumors.