McLaren team principal Andrea Stella explained why he expected Red Bull to be closer in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix despite the FIA’s front wing clampdown. The decreased tolerance for front wing flexing had little impact on McLaren’s performance, as they secured a front row lockout. Stella stated that they anticipated the modifications to have a negligible impact, which was validated by their strong showing. McLaren’s advantage lies in technical, rear-limited circuits, while Red Bull excels on high downforce tracks. Stella expressed surprise at McLaren’s clear advantage in Barcelona and attributed it to the car’s performance in long corners.
Red Bull, on the other hand, struggled with grip despite having a well-balanced car. Verstappen felt satisfied with the through-corner balance but lacked the necessary grip, particularly in the first sector. The front wing clampdown may have played a role in their grip issues, as Verstappen highlighted the importance of grip for a competitive lap. Red Bull continues to fine-tune their setup to address grip deficiencies and stay competitive with McLaren.
