Max Verstappen pinpoints ‘incredible’ reason for McLaren’s F1 advantage

McLaren's Mid-Corner Magic: Verstappen Baffled by 'Incredible' Dominance

McLaren's grip on Formula 1 remains unshakeable. The team leads the constructors' standings by a staggering 299 points over Ferrari, effectively securing the championship ahead of the summer break. This dominance translates to the drivers' championship as well, where Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are locked in a fierce battle for the top spot.

Only three races out of fourteen have been won by drivers outside McLaren. Verstappen has claimed two victories, while Mercedes' George Russell secured a win in Canada. Piastri currently leads Norris by nine points after Norris' victory in Hungary before the break.

While McLaren's impressive tire management capabilities are widely acknowledged, Red Bull star Max Verstappen identifies another key factor behind their success: cornering speed.

"It’s definitely better on its tyres," Verstappen told reporters. "But at the same time, I think their medium speed performance is incredible compared to, I would say, everyone else on the grid." He continued, “The rotation that they have on the front axle, without losing the rear, is something that is also quite incredible to see, and that’s something that we have to try to achieve.”

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella agrees with Verstappen's assessment. "That’s an easy answer because it can be answered just by looking at the GPS data," he stated. "When you look at the speed comparison with some other teams, the data says that McLaren can generate the highest mid-corner speed in medium-speed corners."

While acknowledging their strengths, Stella also points out areas for improvement. "We still have our weak points... But the majority of corners in a championship happen to be medium-speed corners, and certainly in that range, our car is, data in hand, the best.”