Red Bull face 'impossible' McLaren fight despite 'magic' upgrade

Ferrari's title fight 'role'

Guenther Steiner believes it is not "possible" for Red Bull to catch McLaren this season despite a rumoured "magic" upgrade for the United States Grand Prix. 

The former Haas team principal understands Red Bull will introduce a new floor for the upcoming race at the Circuit of the Americas, which kickstarts a triple-header that includes Mexico and Brazil. 

Red Bull sits 41 points behind McLaren in the F1 constructors' championship following the recent race in Singapore, where Max Verstappen claimed an unexpected podium.

It was a promising result for the reigning constructors' champions ahead of the unusual three-week autumn break the teams are currently enjoying given Red Bull's recent issues with its RB20.

Although it has been suggested this gap between races could offer Red Bull time to get on top of the car's problems, Steiner does not believe it provides any advantage.

"Everything is planned before," Steiner said on the Red Flags podcast. "I don't think there is any advantage because what is coming for Austin is already developed. 

"Obviously, you can prepare yourself better, but they are prepared very well anyway. If you have a week or three weeks, I don't think the preparation level will be any different. 

"So I think the big question is, how big is this upgrade - this apparent magic floor which is coming to Austin - going to help them to catch up again to McLaren? 

"I think that's the big question. All the rest is pretty straightforward."

Ferrari to play key role - Steiner

Even if Red Bull's rumoured new floor ends the outfit's recent struggles, Steiner still believes it will not be enough to topple McLaren. 

The 59-year-old was stunned by McLaren's performance in Singapore at the Marina Bay Circuit, where Norris dominated the entire weekend. 

Whilst Steiner does not see the Woking-based team being caught, he does see Ferrari playing an important role in the title race.  

"I don't think to catch McLaren this year will be possible," stated Steiner. "What they showed in Singapore, for me was just amazing. It was amazing.

"I think that Ferrari can play a bigger role than they played in Singapore for the world championship, because, in theory, they should've been in front of Max, but they didn't qualify ahead, both of them.

"So there was no red flag, safety car, nothing in Singapore which could have helped them to move forward. So they had to fight their way through it, which wasn't easy.

"As you saw also with Oscar Piastri, as soon as you're in dirty air it is just difficult in places like Singapore, more than any other place.

"I think McLaren are in a good way, but Max will be fighting to the end, to hang on to the championship."