The McLaren team has surprised everyone by winning their second race of this season. Moreover, it was the first time the McLaren duo finished at the 1-2 finish since 2012. Meanwhile, it was also Oscar Piastri’s first victory in his career.
However, every F1 fan is astonished by the fact that the MCL38 is consistently outpacing the RB20. Red Bull, which once dominated the circuit, has been pushed on the back foot by the Papay crew. The RBR chief, Christian Horner, has explained the reasons behind MCL38’s success and how it has an edge over the RB20.
Red Bull Chief Claims McLaren To Have A ‘Broader Window’
Christian Horner believes McLaren’s current advantage over Red Bull stems from their car’s better operational window. According to Horner, McLaren’s car appears to have a broader performance window, making it easier for engineers and drivers to manage. In contrast, Red Bull’s car has a very peaky performance window, which complicates matters for both the team and the drivers. The British executive emphasized the need for Red Bull to adjust the car’s balance to broaden this window, as it is highly sensitive to temperature and other factors. The team is actively working on this issue to enhance their performance.
Moreover, McLaren capitalized on their front-row lockout and secured a significant 43-point haul, closing the gap in the championship to 51 points. Thus, the RBR spearhead acknowledged McLaren’s current pace and stressed the importance of Red Bull starting to score big points in the upcoming races. He mentioned that Red Bull has more performance upgrades to bring, aiming to expand the car’s operational window. Further, Horner noted that when the car is in the right window, it performs exceptionally well, as evidenced by its pole position in Austria and near-pole performance in the recent race. However, he admitted that the car still has limitations, particularly highlighted by Max Verstappen, and the challenge lies in translating these issues into engineering and aerodynamic solutions.
The tension between Horner and Verstappen’s father, Jos, seems to have eased, as the two were seen in discussions. Horner clarified that the entire team is focused on the championship battle, with all efforts directed toward optimizing performance, developing the car, and maximizing race weekend results.
Toto Wolff Admits McLaren Is Setting The New Benchmark
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff recognized McLaren’s rising danger on the track, especially following the Hungarian Grand Prix. He conceded that, while Mercedes outpaced Max Verstappen on race day, they may not have been faster in pure race pace. Wolff noted that McLaren has now established itself as the strongest team on the grid in all situations, creating a new standard for others to strive for.
Furthermore, Wolff highlighted that McLaren’s regular top-tier performance benefits the sport by introducing another competitive team into the mix. Despite Mercedes’ efforts, he confessed that they had not yet reached the level required to equal McLaren’s performance.