McLaren team principal Andrea Stella disagreed with the notion that his team underperformed in Imola, comparing it to a dominant Miami weekend as “apples and pears.” Oscar Piastri’s pole position was overshadowed by Max Verstappen’s race pace, suggesting Red Bull had the measure of McLaren over the race distance with stronger tyre management.
Red Bull implied their upgrades and McLaren’s underperformance contributed to the turnaround since Miami, where Verstappen lagged significantly behind Piastri. Stella defended McLaren’s performance, emphasizing the differences in circuit layout between Imola and Miami, suggesting a consistent pace with Red Bull in high-speed tracks like Saudi Arabia and Japan. Stella warned against comparing different types of circuits, comparing it to comparing apples and pears.
Regarding Monaco, Stella teased it as a “peach,” a unique challenge that could see Ferrari as the lead car. He pointed out the subtle mind games played by Red Bull to put pressure on McLaren, urging a focus on technical facts over strategic narratives. Stella remained curious about future races and the evolving competitive landscape in Formula 1.
