P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren wary of “unpleasant surprise” from Red Bull in F1 2024
Red Bull has downplayed the idea of dominating the competition like they did last year, but their rivals aren’t taking any chances. McLaren, who was Red Bull’s main competitor last year, is particularly cautious because Red Bull stopped developing their 2023 car early. This suggests that Red Bull may have focused on significant improvements for their 2024 car that have remained hidden. McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown expressed their desire to chase down Red Bull this year, but acknowledged the need for realistic expectations. McLaren is optimistic about the progress they have seen in their simulation facilities regarding their 2024 car, but team boss Andrea Stella shares Brown’s caution as Red Bull is not expected to have stood still over the winter. Stella speculates that Red Bull may have used this time to accumulate development for their next car, potentially giving them a significant advantage. Despite this, McLaren remains focused on their own performance development and believes they have the opportunity to close the gap over time.
