Max Verstappen dealt Red Bull a significant blow after finishing second in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, revealing a key area where McLaren is significantly stronger.
The defending world champion began third at Albert Park, but swiftly passed Oscar Piastri on the first lap before settling behind Lando Norris.
However, the Red Bull driver made a mistake in the early stages, allowing Piastri to pass. Verstappen appeared to be on track for third place until both McLarens were taken off guard by a surprise strong rain shower.
Norris and Piastri both left the course, with the latter spinning on the grass at the penultimate corner.
Verstappen capitalised and took the lead, but fell behind Norris following a last round of pit stops for fresh intermediate tyres.
He attempted to force Norris into a mistake in the last laps, but was forced to settle for second place behind the Briton.
"At least I tried, but it's very difficult to get really close here," Verstappen told Viaplay.
"And I maybe had to wait for a mistake, as he obviously had one with two laps to go, I think. In itself, of course, it's still a very good result for us."
When the rain fell throughout the race, Verstappen appeared to be on par with Norris and Piastri.
However, when the course began to dry, the Woking-based team's advantage became clear, particularly in the opening stint.
"In the first stint we obviously had no chance at all," conceded Verstappen. "They [McLaren] were really a lot faster.
"Then I just tried to stay out of trouble and we did that well. We kept the car in one piece and brought it back without any damage with second place."
Piastri overtook Verstappen when the 27-year-old made a rare error at Turn 11, causing him to run wide.
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Verstappen explained that it was caused by his tyres overheating, which every team save McLaren suffered with.
"My tyres just overheated faster," confirmed Verstappen. "You also see that with the other teams behind me, they have that same problem.
"And McLaren doesn't have that, they can just watch the tyres a little bit better.
"When that tyre naturally goes a little bit, especially on the intermediates with very soft rubber... That's where you then see that they are just suddenly a lot faster than everybody else."
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