McLaren’s GENIUS Tyre Trick Explained

McLaren's **"genius tyre trick"** refers to a clever strategic move during a Formula 1 race where the team exploited tyre rules to gain a competitive advantage. While the exact race may vary, such tricks often involve:

### **1. Double-Stinting Tyres (Saving a Set for Later)**
- In some F1 weekends, teams must return one set of tyres after practice, but McLaren may have kept an extra set by using a certain compound minimally, allowing them to have fresher tyres in the race.

### **2. Alternative Tyre Strategy (Undercut/Overcut)**
- McLaren may have pitted earlier (undercut) or later (overcut) than rivals to gain track position or better tyre life.
- Sometimes, starting on a less-favored compound (like the hard tyre) allows a long first stint, then switching to faster tyres later when rivals are struggling.

### **3. Switching Tyres During a Red Flag (Free Change)**
- If a race was red-flagged, McLaren could have changed tyres without losing time, giving them an advantage when racing resumed.

### **4. Using a Rare Compound Choice**
- If most teams used two different compounds, McLaren might have saved an extra set of the fastest tyre (like the soft) for a late-race sprint.

### **Why It’s "Genius"**
- McLaren’s strategists outsmarted rivals by interpreting the rules creatively, gaining track position or better tyre life when it mattered most.

Would you like an explanation tailored to a specific race (e.g., a recent Grand Prix where McLaren pulled this off)? Let me know!