Red Bull blew away the opposition during a record-breaking 2023 campaign in which the team won 21 of the 22 races and eased to both world championships for a second consecutive year.
After a terrible start to the campaign, an incredible mid-season resurgence saw McLaren end the year as Red Bull’s closest and most consistent rival to what was once the second-fastest car on the grid, the dominant RB19.
However, Red Bull halted its car’s progression for 2023 to focus on 2024, leaving McLaren worried about the option of F1 witnessing a “nasty surprise”.
“Obviously, we need to keep closing the gap,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown said at the launch of the team’s 2024 livery. “We finished last year as the second or third fastest team, depending on which track we were on.
“The progression of the cars has been strong, but Red Bull doesn’t seem to have evolved last year to the point where it could have if it had wanted to. So this can be an unpleasant wonder for all of us. “
While McLaren is confident it can build on the progress made last year with its new MCL38 car, it expects the same to be true for reigning champion Red Bull.
“Competitiveness on the track compared to what the rivals have done,” said McLaren team principal Andrea Stella.
“When you think about Red Bull in particular, there is one detail that makes everyone doubt what will happen in 2024, and that is the fact that they have not evolved their car much.
So, have they made the most of their profits, racked up the advances, and will they capitalize on next year’s car?That’s my theory. “
“I can’t think that Red Bull wasn’t in a position to expand their car. They may not have to make improvements, but that may mean their gradient [of expansion] has continued. “
Stella added: “I would say Red Bull should be extremely competitive and we will see where we are, and we will see what kind of challenge we will be able to set on track.
“But, for me, for us, it’s vital that we see that we’re doing a smart job in terms of improving our own performances. We are convinced that if we continue on this path, we will eventually have the opportunity to close the gap. That’s our vision for the future.
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