Wait required to discover true Red Bull 'competitiveness' – Stella

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has urged caution over challenging Red Bull for the title, following the leading outfit's recent below-par form. 

Red Bull has not had the strongest package across the last three races in Miami, Imola and Monaco, with McLaren in particular having been quicker than the Milton Keynes-based outfit at each of those venues. 

Ferrari has also shown strong speed, and raised speculation after Imola that despite Max Verstappen's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix win, a title fight could be on the cards.

Stella himself is puzzled somewhat by Red Bull's recent uncompetitiveness, something which many have put down to the importance of riding bumps and kerbs in recent races, a believed weakness of the RB20.

"I think the picture of competitiveness for Red Bull is not entirely clear to me," Stella told select media including RacingNews365. 

"Clearly, Imola and Monaco are two tracks in which riding kerbs and riding bumps is important for performance. To some extent in Miami as well, but not that much. 

"So I think, for instance, our progress, I don't think is just because we are competitive or more competitive on these kinds of characteristics. I think that's more genuine. 

"It's just we have added downforce onto the car. And like I said at the start, if anything, our two drivers are not happy with the behaviour on kerbs and bumps in Monaco. That's potentially the main limitation we still face."

Wait until after Canada

A true picture of whether Red Bull has been caught by McLaren and Ferrari likely will not be discovered next weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix, as it is another circuit where riding the kerbs is pivotal to a strong lap time.

A clearer answer may be revealed when F1 returns to Europe, at the likes of Barcelona, the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone – the three rounds which follow the Canadian GP. 

"Exactly what is going on with Red Bull, I'm not so sure," added Stella. 

"I think we need a few more races to find out because obviously we go next to Canada, which is another one very demanding on kerbs and bumps. 

"And then I think some tracks after Canada will tell us more about the competitiveness situation."