Windsor after Norris F1 victory: “The safety car in Abu Dhabi was illegal, this one in Miami was not”

Peter Windsor thinks it is too early to suddenly see McLaren as a challenger to Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen after Lando Norris’ victory during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami. The Briton also avoids any comparison with the safety car during the 2021 race in Abu Dhabi.

Norris won the race in Miami, mainly because Verstappen had damage to his floor and the safety car was also in his favor. In addition, the FIA ​​corrected its own mistake by, after Verstappen was picked up as ‘leader’, letting the rest pass and then picking up Norris as leader and setting the pace. Windsor is featured in his livestream on YouTube asked about the situation and says that the comparison with Verstappen and Abu Dhabi 2021 does not apply at all. “Let’s be clear: the safety car in Abu Dhabi was illegal. What happened to those left behind was illegal. The safety car in Miami was not illegal. In any case, it is a gray area because if the safety car would have had to wait “At the moment he knew where the race leader was, he could have waited five or ten minutes and everything would have taken much longer.”

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McLaren now really a threat to Verstappen and Red Bull?

Windsor is then asked whether he now sees McLaren as a challenger to Red Bull. “I don’t think so, because it would be too early to say that after one race. It was one race in which they [Red Bull] were not doing well. It seemed as if Verstappen was anticipating some form of drama, as he gave himself more wing and less top speed. He was trying a lot of things, and after he had damage he was slower than the McLarens and Pérez. He couldn’t make up for it with the grip and balance, but he will be able to do that next time. So be careful when saying that McLaren has caught up with Red Bull. Norris has maximized everything. He rode very well and that was wonderful to see.”

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Ferrari still has to take steps

Ferrari has been in good shape all season, but so far the Italian team has only achieved victory during the race in Australia [gewonnen door Carlos Sainz], when Verstappen dropped out. The question is whether the upgrades will help the team to consistently record victories. “Ferrari has taken a good step and now has a larger sweet spot. The update should maintain the level of downforce and deliver more top speed, which would mean a step towards Red Bull. They will do well on more tracks, because they are not as edgy as Mercedes. Top speed is crucial though, so maybe things will improve with the upgrades. Pérez’s strong point is that he can manage the rear tires well. Verstappen could not really manage the tires well in the final phase of Miami, but that will be different in Imola.”

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