P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren were caught off guard by the pace of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull at Imola.
McLaren have admitted that they were surprised by Red Bull’s pace advantage at the F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen claimed a dominant victory after a spectacular overtake at the start. McLaren, who have won five races in 2025, did not anticipate Verstappen’s level of dominance in the race. The team felt that the track layout and ambient conditions would have made the race more balanced in terms of pace compared to their strong showing in Miami. However, Red Bull’s performance was very competitive, leading to McLaren’s inability to match Verstappen’s pace. Team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged Red Bull’s improvements and the different aerodynamic requirements at high-speed circuits like Imola, where McLaren lacked a performance advantage. Despite their second-place finish with Lando Norris, McLaren recognizes the need to stay vigilant as the competitive landscape can change rapidly in Formula 1.
