McLaren Flags Red Bull’s Radical Sidepod as F1’s New Battleground

Overview

• McLaren team boss Andrea Stella called Red Bull’s RB22 sidepod concept very interesting and different from the designs used by Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren.
• Stella said teams will run their own tests to see what advantages the Red Bull layout offers and may adapt elements that prove quick.
• He added that Red Bull used permitted legality concessions to package the new bodywork geometry, which he described as smart and innovative.
• Red Bull’s Miami package also featured a Ferrari‑style rear wing nicknamed the “Macarena,” and the team said the update delivered a clear step by cutting its gap to pole.
• Stella said the grid remains far from a single template, with car designs still diverging as teams chase performance through different aerodynamic paths.