P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren looked to possess the strongest car during the pre-season test in Bahrain last month.
Helmut Marko discussed the gap that Red Bull believes they have to close to rivals McLaren before the new F1 season. McLaren had a strong pre-season test in Bahrain and are considered favorites to start the upcoming campaign strongly. Red Bull aims to challenge McLaren, who won the constructors’ championship last year and now target the drivers’ title in 2025. Marko admitted that McLaren seems to be half a second to a second faster than Red Bull on one lap, based on the pre-season performances. Despite not topping the speed traps, McLaren’s impressive sector times indicate that they may not have fully unleashed their potential, suggesting a potential strong performance in the upcoming races. Marko believes that if McLaren continues this form, they could be the ones leading the pack in the first races of the season.
