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McLaren shows impressive pace at the Miami Grand Prix, but team boss Andrea Stella warns that Mercedes remains the faster car. This insight reveals the ongoing battle for supremacy in Formula 1.
Despite Lando Norris's standout performance in the sprint event, where he left competitors behind, Stella emphasizes the importance of cold, hard data. The reigning world champion, Kimi Antonelli, finished over three seconds ahead of Mercedes, but Stella attributes this gap to a strategy miscue from McLaren rather than a full-fledged leap over Mercedes.
Stella points out that while McLaren’s upgrades have improved traction and drivability, Mercedes still excels in high-speed corners—a critical aspect of the Miami circuit. “Mercedes don't have any problem with deployment,” Stella states, noting their advantage in sectors like Turns 4 to 8.
This analysis highlights the tight competition between the top teams. Even after McLaren's strong showing, Stella meticulously dissects where Mercedes maintains an edge, indicating there's more potential to unlock. He also references race-stint data, showing Antonelli's ability to close and then extend gaps, further solidifying Mercedes as the benchmark in the current season.
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