As the countdown to the Melbourne Grand Prix narrows, Tom Coronel, the seasoned Dutch racing pundit, hints at more surprises up the sleeves of McLaren and Red Bull. Pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit saw McLaren drive away with an air of confidence, while Red Bull confessed there’s room for improvement.
Despite Carlos Sainz from Williams clocking in the fastest time during the testing, McLaren demonstrated superior long-run pace. According to Red Bull advisor, Helmut Marko, McLaren’s advantage could be in the ballpark of “two or three-tenths”.
McLaren’s latest MCL39 presents a distinct update from its predecessor, the Constructors-winning MCL38. Alterations include a reprofiled nose, a revamped airbox and sidepods, and significant modifications to the front suspension layout. Red Bull’s RB21, on the other hand, seemed to mirror its precursor closely, with no major visible changes.
However, Coronel advises caution against such misleading appearances. He suggests that a bulk of the modifications on the RB21 remains concealed. In his words, “This is the big magic trick,”. He goes on to insinuate that there are more revelations to come from Red Bull.
When reminded that Red Bull’s competitors have undertaken ‘significant changes’, Coronel retorted by reminding everyone of the reigning champion, hinting at the strength of Red Bull’s previous design.
Max Verstappen, last year’s victor, went through a ten-race dry spell before clinching victory in Brazil and subsequently, the championship in Las Vegas. According to Marko, it was Verstappen, rather than the RB20, that won the Drivers’ title. Coronel, however, counters this, stating, “But you can’t become World Champion in a Flintstone car,”. He concedes that Verstappen’s skill played a role, but implies that a superior car was also essential to the win.
Coronel also shed some light on McLaren’s MCL39. Despite their seeming supremacy in pre-season testing, Coronel believes they were ‘sandbagging’. He suggests that McLaren is concealing something, and points to the car’s consistency as evidence of his suspicions. He ended on a note of admiration, expressing that he was thoroughly impressed by their performance.
As the Melbourne Grand Prix looms, it’s clear that the competition is heating up. With experts like Coronel adding fuel to the speculation fire, fans and rivals alike will be keeping a keen eye on Red Bull and McLaren’s unfolding strategies.