P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren has spotted a “smart” innovation on Red Bull’s upgraded 2026 F1 car.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella expressed interest in Red Bull’s new sidepod design for their upgraded Formula 1 car, calling it “very interesting”. Red Bull, along with McLaren and Ferrari, brought significant upgrades to the recent Miami Grand Prix, helping Red Bull move closer to the front of the pack, pleasing driver Max Verstappen. Stella highlighted one innovation in Red Bull’s design that caught McLaren’s attention, expecting other teams to explore similar solutions. He noted the differences in sidepod concepts between Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren, suggesting a phase of testing and convergence among teams. Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies praised the upgrades as a definitive step forward, acknowledging the progress made in addressing performance issues faced earlier in the season.
