McLaren's Near Miss at Imola: How They Almost Topped Red Bull and What's Next
Andrea Stella and the McLaren team are savoring a bittersweet moment after coming perilously close to snatching victory from Red Bull at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Following Lando Norris' remarkable win in Miami, the team had high hopes heading into Imola. The weekend delivered an intense nail-biter, with Norris finishing within a hair's breadth of toppling Max Verstappen.
Despite the narrow miss, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella expressed both satisfaction and caution. He is aware that the increasingly tight competition at the top means his team must strive for perfection in every aspect of race execution. Stella emphasized that even the slightest misstep can be the deciding factor when the leading cars are separated by mere tenths of a second.
In his post-race analysis, Stella highlighted tire management, driving precision, and race operations as critical elements. “Execution of the weekend is always a key factor,” he said. “But now, when margins are so close, operations, the way you drive the race and manage the tyres can become the dominant factor. I think between a McLaren and a Red Bull today, there wasn’t much to pick, and other factors made a difference.”
There is now very little between McLaren and Red Bull on race pace based on Imola
Stella was quick to credit Verstappen’s driving skills, which became apparent in his clinching of the pole position – a move that significantly influenced the race’s outcome. He noted, “We also see the skills of Max Verstappen. But for us, it’s important to knock on the door of victories on a weekend where, at some stage, Ferrari had the fastest car, and then Max appeared in qualifying, so it is very variable.”
Outside factors, such as navigating through back markers and holding pole position, also played decisive roles in the race. Stella acknowledged Verstappen’s prowess, stating, “Being in the dirty air seemed to play a big factor... So, having the pole position and being ahead at the first corner gives you the free air to manage your tyres in a certain way and manage your pace. Max did a good job in securing the pole position and leading into the first corner.”
Stella shouldered the blame for the grid penalty that hampered Piastri's race
McLaren’s recent upgrades have clearly bridged much of the gap to Red Bull, and more fine-tuning is expected with their upcoming track-specific parts for Monaco. Execution, however, remains key. Stella stressed the need to avoid errors such as the one that led to Oscar Piastri’s grid penalty, which resulted from a miscommunication about approaching cars during qualifying. With two McLaren cars on the front grid, the dynamics of the race might have been different.
Despite the setback, McLaren showcased their competitiveness, running interference against Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was swift at times. Norris' pit stops were strategically timed to prevent an undercut from Ferrari, even though this caused him to fall temporarily behind Red Bull's Sergio Perez. Whether these strategies influenced the ultimate pursuit of Verstappen remains speculative.
Stella took accountability for the slip-up that cost Piastri a potential podium, saying, “We take responsibility for Oscar not finishing on the podium... it doesn’t have to do with Oscar making any mistake, it was a situation created by the team. I’m sure he will have more opportunities in the future.”
Looking forward to Monaco, McLaren currently stands third in the Constructors' Championship behind Red Bull and Ferrari. With their recent upgrades and a drive to refine their race operations, the team is poised to challenge the leaders once again. The narrowing gap and the team's relentless push for perfection make McLaren a team to watch in the coming races.