P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Why McLaren thinks closer F1 qualifying gap to Red Bull is an ‘illusion’
Despite major updates from rival teams, Red Bull’s true advantage over the competition has not been fully exposed, as demonstrated by Max Verstappen’s dominant win at the United States Grand Prix. While teams like McLaren can close the gap to Red Bull in qualifying sessions, the true advantage of the Red Bull car becomes evident in races when tire degradation occurs. Red Bull’s car works well in low grip conditions and is gentle on the tires, allowing them to extract the real advantage. The team has focused on developing a race car that performs well in race conditions, even if it sacrifices some qualifying pace. Red Bull’s ability to manage the pace and preserve tire performance gives them a significant advantage.
Source: motorsport
