McLaren Boss Stella Finds Red Bull's Sidepod 'Very Interesting' as Upgrade War Intensifies

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has singled out Red Bull's sidepod design on the heavily upgraded RB22 as a "very interesting" development, suggesting every team will be studying it closely. Speaking after the Miami Grand Prix upgrades, Stella praised Red Bull for being "quite smart and innovative" in how they used regulatory flexibility to introduce new geometry.

Why it matters:

The fierce development race in 2025 is far from settled, with teams still exploring divergent design philosophies. Stella's comments underline that Red Bull's latest sidepod concept could become a benchmark, forcing rivals to either copy or counter. The pace of convergence will shape the competitive order for the remainder of the season.

The details:

• Stella noted that Red Bull's sidepod concept is "quite different" from those adopted by Mercedes and Ferrari, while McLaren's approach is distinct as well.
• The most visible upgrade on the RB22 was a 'Macarena' rear wing inspired by Ferrari, but the sidepod geometry is the more telling innovation.
• Regulatory creativity: Red Bull exploited legality concessions to introduce a unique sidepod shape, which Stella described as "smart" – a subtle jab at their engineering prowess.
• Convergence still far off: Stella believes the grid is "quite far" from design convergence, unlike previous regulation cycles where cars quickly started looking similar.
• Each team will now "test and take a look" at the Red Bull concept to understand its advantages, potentially triggering a copying trend.

What's next:

The Miami Grand Prix upgrade packages are just the beginning of a rapid development cycle. If Red Bull's sidepod proves to yield downforce or cooling gains, expect other teams to explore similar geometries by the summer break. McLaren's own upgrades, though less visually dramatic, may also influence the next wave. The design divergence means no team can afford to stand still – and Stella has made it clear that Red Bull's solution is now firmly on everyone's radar.