P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Andrea Stella believes Red Bull has “definitely improved” the RB21 after Max Verstappen clinched pole position for the sprint at the Circuit of the Americas.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged Max Verstappen’s sprint pole at the United States Grand Prix as confirmation that Red Bull has made significant improvements to the RB21.
Having faced various track profiles recently, the medium-speed Circuit of the Americas was the ultimate test ground for the upgraded Red Bull.
The upgrades introduced by the Milton Keynes-based squad at the Italian Grand Prix, combined with revised operational approaches, have revitalized Red Bull’s performance potential.
This resurgence has put Verstappen back in the title hunt, presenting a strong challenge for his fifth consecutive F1 drivers’ championship.
While Red Bull’s progress is evident, McLaren’s competitiveness was highlighted by Stella, who believes they are now on equal footing with Red Bull.
Stella emphasized the tight competition at the top, commending Red Bull’s strides in performance across different circuit types.
Despite Verstappen’s narrow gap over Norris in qualifying, Stella expressed satisfaction with McLaren’s competitive showing at COTA and sees it as a solid foundation for further improvements.
