Andrea Stella insists McLaren stayed calm amid the noise, saying new rules were overhyped and had no real impact on results.
The revised front wings, now less flexible, have they really made a difference? Not really, at least judging by today’s qualifying results.
McLaren F1, who had been under scrutiny from Red Bull and Christian Horner in particular, secured a fairly comfortable pole position today.
So, what are Andrea Stella’s conclusions on the matter this Saturday?
“The Technical Directive TD018 was a major topic of discussion. But for us, it was irrelevant. It was always seen as minor based on the data.”
“It was entertaining to have this kind of debate, but our simulations indicated that any potential impact was very small. We were not concerned in that regard. A non-issue, even if some placed too much hope in it!”
Principled Fight for Championship
Red Bull remains a threat, however, with Max Verstappen still firmly in the title fight.
“Yes, on the drivers’ side, Verstappen is right there. I would not rule out him fighting for the championship. It is Max Verstappen in a Red Bull. We are certainly not thinking only of a battle between Lando and Oscar.”
“The battle between our drivers is exciting, that is for sure. That is what Zak Brown and I have worked hard for. To have a competitive car with two competitive drivers and to eventually make the championship a matter between the two of them.”
“That has always been our mission. I believe we are approaching it with very strong principles, to which Lando and Oscar are fully committed. We want to see a fierce battle and look forward to the rest of the season.”
“We have our own approach to racing, a process between Lando and Oscar that has been ongoing for months. It is based on principles, but when it comes to racing against your teammate or any other car, you cannot be too directive.”
Drivers Deliver Under Pressure
“We trust our drivers. That is the most important factor. We constantly have excellent conversations. I am sure it will be an exciting and fair battle all the way to the end of the championship.”
A Cold Shower for Christian Horner
Red Bull, then, did not really benefit from the much-discussed TD018. After qualifying, Horner admitted that McLaren still holds the upper hand.
“We saw in free practice that we were three tenths off, and that was confirmed over one lap. The race is tomorrow, they have looked quick all weekend, they locked out the front row, so credit to them. There is still the race, and we could deliver a strong performance from third place.”
“The run to the first corner is the longest on the calendar, and if you get a good start, you have a good tow and that is your first opportunity. But the race will depend on the front-left tyre, and the team that manages it best will come out on top. There will likely be two stops, and that will certainly create opportunities.”
Confidence Missing For Tsunoda
As Stella mentioned, it is still a race for just one Red Bull. What happened to Tsunoda, who ended up last in the session?
“We need to look into what happened because we do not understand it. He has struggled all weekend, and that is unusual. We tried to add more downforce to give him more confidence. But it still was not good.”
“There is always pressure in Formula 1, but he can bounce back. He came back into the points from the pit lane two weeks ago, so he can do it again.”
- Discover More>Official: Lance Stroll Withdraws from Spanish GP and Is Out Indefinitely
- Following us on>Facebook et Twitter