P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull Technical Director Pierre Wache has admitted the mid-season improvement that propelled McLaren above the team in F1 in 2024 came as a “surprise”.
Red Bull initially seemed destined for victory in the 2024 F1 championship with Max Verstappen’s early successes, but the Miami Grand Prix marked a pivotal moment when Lando Norris clinched McLaren’s first win, shifting the momentum. Norris’ success at Miami highlighted McLaren’s potential, leading them to ultimately win the Constructors’ title as Red Bull faced balance issues. Despite Red Bull’s struggles with updates, Team Principal Wache attributed their setback in Miami to McLaren’s significant progress rather than changes in their own performance. McLaren’s improved performance, especially in tire management, post-Miami showcased the effectiveness of their upgrade package and surprised competitors, including Red Bull. Wache acknowledged the unexpected nature of McLaren’s development and their overall performance improvement during the 2024 season.
