McLaren technical boss: 'Hats off to Mercedes' bravery'

Mercedes thought for a moment in Spain that the aerodynamic problems were a thing of the past. But in Monaco they were back after all. The team continues to look hard for improvements for a car that cannot compete for victories.

For years, Mercedes was known for its clever and groundbreaking designs. This year, it seems to have missed the mark entirely. Still, there is particular praise for the remarkable sidepods, McLaren technical boss James Key says in the podcast Beyond the Grid. "Hats off to the people who come up with this and have the courage to go to work on it," he says.

With the rule changes, the cars of the different teams no longer look alike. Some designs turn out to be the right ones, others don't work. "I think it's great to see such diversity. One of the biggest concerns before 2022 was, 'oh, every car will look the same'. We heard that comment a lot. "

The Mercedes stands out mainly because of the side pods. "Mercedes went to the extreme," Key said. "I think we were all surprised, but it's great to see a team have the courage - and then the innovation that goes into it - to have something that is so different."