Andrea Stella: Red Bull didn't enjoy any advantage in Melbourne

According to McLaren Formula 1 team principal Andrea Stella, Red Bull "did not enjoy any advantage" with its tyres at the graining-affected 2024 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, contrary to their superiority at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Tyre graining levels the field

Stella's comments come in the wake of a race where severe graining on the front and rear left tyres emerged as a major factor for all teams.

Unlike the low-grip Bahrain circuit, where Red Bull was "the only car that comfortably used the soft tyres," the higher grip levels at Albert Park pushed tyres to their limits, generating substantial graining.

No straightforward solutions

Stella acknowledged the complexity of engineering solutions for such tyre issues, stating,

"It's not straightforward at all. Otherwise, everyone would be in a good spot. It's really difficult."

He highlighted the non-linear nature of tyre behavior, where minor condition changes can dramatically alter performance.

Red Bull's struggles evident

Even Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who attempted a long run during final practice, experienced significant tyre degradation after just 10-15 laps, according to Stella's observations.

This contrasted with their dominant form in Bahrain, where graining was virtually non-existent due to lower grip levels.

Level playing field

Stella firmly believes that Red Bull

"did not enjoy any advantage, apparently, from a tyre handling point of view"

at the Australian Grand Prix, a stark contrast to their performance in Bahrain.

The high graining levels effectively neutralized any potential tyre management edge Red Bull may have possessed.

Potential weaknesses in RB20

The varying tyre performance between Bahrain and Melbourne underscores the delicate balance teams must strike when setting up their cars for different circuits.

While Red Bull excelled on the low-grip Bahrain surface, the higher grip levels at Albert Park exposed potential weaknesses in their tyre management capabilities.

Graining, caused by excessive heat buildup and tread separation, is a complex phenomenon influenced by a multitude of factors, including track characteristics, ambient temperatures, and aerodynamic setup.

Teams must meticulously analyze and adjust their car setups to minimize graining and extract maximum performance from the tyres.

As the Formula 1 calendar features a diverse array of circuits, the ability to adapt to varying tyre behavior will be crucial for teams vying for championship contention.

Red Bull's dominance in Bahrain may not necessarily translate to other high-grip tracks, presenting opportunities for rivals like Ferrari and Mercedes to capitalize on potential weaknesses.

Andrea Stella's assessment underscores the dynamic nature of Formula 1, where advantages can swing dramatically from one race to another.