Red Bull warned over double disadvantage in Miami McLaren showdown
Today at 03:15 AM
Red Bull must overcome the difficulties posed by F1 sprint weekends if it is to be competitive at the Miami Grand Prix, according to Giedo van der Garde. The Dutchman, speaking exclusively to RacingNews365 , explained why that is a particular challenge for the Milton Keynes squad, highlighting how it often takes longer than its F1 rivals to find the optimal set up. In the paddock, the consensus is that Max Verstappen is out-performing the RB21, as he did last season with the RB20. However, Van der Garde feels that given the high rate of tyre wear expected at the Miami International Autodrome, the four-time F1 drivers' champion could struggle if Red Bull does not quickly get on top of its set up. Two ultimately strong weekends for the 64-time grand prix winner in Japan and Saudi Arabia bookended a disastrous trip to Bahrain, another circuit with high tyre degradation. "As a driver, you can make a difference everywhere, but Miami is a track with a fairly high tyre wear, so that will be a thing," the former Caterham driver said. "However, if they [Red Bull] can find a good setup for that, then he [Verstappen] can definitely compete. "The disadvantage is that this weekend is a sprint race weekend. The last couple of times Red Bull was always a bit searching [for answers on sprint weekends]. "In Jeddah, we saw that after Friday, which was not quite right initially. Red Bull managed to turn things around with a good setup. "That opportunity is not there now. The first free practice is immediately followed by sprint qualifying. "And that makes a sprint weekend always a bit of a disadvantage for Red Bull. On the other hand, Verstappen will compete for the podium, but I do think the McLaren will be very fast [in Miami] again." Norris or Piastri? The Floridian round was the start of McLaren's change in fortunes last season, and Van der Garde believes the papaya team heads to the sunshine state well positioned for a fifth victory in the opening six rounds of the year. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri look set to be engaged in a season-long battle for supremacy, with the latter having taken the recent momentum and significant points hauls, but Van der Garde feels the former will come good in Miami. When asked which McLaren driver he felt was poised for victory this weekend, the 40-year-old harked back to the British driver's first grand prix win there 12 months ago. "Lando Norris. He obviously got his first win here last year," he replied. Van der Garde argued that despite his disappointing qualifying session in Jeddah, Norris can now capitalise on being the hunter , not the hunted , in the title fight - and make use of his long-run form. "If you saw his race pace, it was really good," he added. "Surely that showed that he is the faster of the two. He just needs to get his act together and not make any mistakes. "Maybe it is an advantage for him that he is now second in the world championship, that he can now start chasing and that the pressure can be taken off a little bit."
