McLaren 'not surprised' as Red Bull rejoins victory battle in Austrian GP

After struggling through the opening part of the season, Red Bull introduced a major upgrade package for the RB22 in Austria, with the developments immediately paying off as Verstappen returned to fighting at the front. That resulted in a thrilling battle between Red Bull and Mercedes that went right down to the final corner, while McLaren once again lacked the pace to challenge for a podium finish.

Speaking to GPBlog among other media after the race, Stella said Red Bull's resurgence in Austria came as no surprise, arguing that the competitive order has remained largely consistent throughout the season and that meaningful changes have only come when teams have introduced significant upgrade packages. He pointed to the extensive development Red Bull brought to the RB22 at the Red Bull Ring, saying it was only natural that the team gained a few tenths and rejoined the fight for victory.

Red Bull's pace at the Austrian Grand Prix may have surprised many, but the reigning world champion was not shocked by the Milton Keynes-based team's strong performance, echoing Stella's assessment. The McLaren driver stressed that Red Bull remain an exceptional team and had never truly been struggling with a poor car, even if some races had proved more difficult than others.

Norris pointed out that Red Bull had already shown competitive flashes in previous rounds, including Montreal, and felt the Austrian Grand Prix suited the strengths of their package, particularly their high top speed and strong performance through high-speed corners. While he believes more races will be needed to judge their progress properly, he acknowledged that Red Bull had done a strong job.