© Jiri Krenek for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella responds to Mercedes comparing their car to Red Bull and says “every team takes inspiration from any other team”.
McLaren has seemingly significantly improved its 2023 car – the MCL60. The improved performance was evident in British Grand Prix Qualifying, where Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri qualified in P2 and P3 respectively.
After the session, Lewis Hamilton said if you put a McLaren “alongside a Red Bull, it looks very, very similar”, and Toto Wolff also confirmed that “from the outside”, the MCL60 “looks like a Red Bull”.
In response, McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella said it is normal to take inspiration from other teams.
“Every team takes inspiration from any other team,” Stella said.
“Teams are equipped to try and absorb the IP from looking at the photos from the car displays on Friday.
“So you do take inspiration from the other cars, but taking inspiration doesn’t mean you copy the geometry, you install it in your CFD runs, in the computer simulation, or in the wind tunnel and the car lights up in terms of downforce.
If you like SilverArrows.Net, consider supporting us by buying us a coffee!
“Normally what happens is it goes down, because your car is already optimised around what you have done up until that point.
“The key element is understanding that some concepts have more potential that allow you to develop faster and for longer.
“That is where you need to have the right people in the right place.”
Stella then praised former Red Bull aerodynamicist Peter Prodromou, who now heads up the McLaren’s aero department.
“I would like to mention one name here: Peter Prodromou, who is leading the aerodynamic development at McLaren and is doing an exceptional job in terms of setting the conceptual direction, but also organising and inspiring the entire aerodynamic group.
“So really well done to Peter,” Stella concluded.
