P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren is braced for a much bigger threat from Red Bull at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend, but it won’t be down to Formula 1’s flexi-wing clampdown
McLaren is anticipating a significant challenge from Red Bull at the Spanish Grand Prix, unrelated to Formula 1’s flexi-wing regulations. Red Bull and Ferrari are confident that changes in flexi-wing restrictions will impact the competitive hierarchy, targeting McLaren and Mercedes for exploiting these rules excessively. Despite this, McLaren suggests that Red Bull’s narrative may not entirely align with technical facts, hinting at mind games in play. McLaren expects a tighter competition in Barcelona, acknowledging that the track characteristics may favor their rivals, with the introduction of a new front wing directive being a separate issue. The team has tested the new front wing previously and expects minimal performance impact, signaling that the overall field balancing is influenced by various factors beyond technical directives. McLaren emphasizes that track-specific conditions can significantly affect race outcomes, highlighting the transient nature of F1 performance. The team remains prepared for tough competition in Spain, understanding the unpredictability of race results despite external factors like technical directives.
