Andrea Stella insists McLaren’s impressive start doesn’t guarantee dominance, highlighting the team’s ongoing challenges and Lando Norris’ need for adjustment.
Andrea Stella, the McLaren F1 team principal, has dismissed claims of McLaren’s dominance in the 2025 Formula 1 season, emphasizing the challenges faced by Lando Norris and confirming the team’s ongoing efforts to improve. While McLaren has shown strong performance in pre-season testing and early races, Stella insists that the team must remain cautious and realistic about their strengths and weaknesses.
In Bahrain during free practice, McLaren F1 made an impressive statement, with Oscar Piastri leading the way, half a second ahead of George Russell, the highest-placed driver from another team. The team’s MCL39 car has been recognized as a competitive contender, improving on last year’s already fast and reliable model.
Stella, however, made it clear that this success has been the result of months of hard work and risk-taking. “We’ve had to be innovative and bold, rethinking almost every aspect of the car. I cannot thank the McLaren team enough for making this performance possible,” he said.
Despite the promising start, Stella remained grounded, particularly about McLaren’s performance in Bahrain. “Bahrain is the toughest track for us in the early part of the season,” he noted. “While we didn’t necessarily show a clear advantage during winter testing, we’ve been able to manage tire wear well, which could work in our favor here with higher tire degradation, particularly at the rear.”
However, he cautioned that the car’s performance in Bahrain might not carry over to other circuits, especially those with more technical corners. “McLaren might not have a clear advantage in those conditions,” Stella added, referencing the need to qualify well and avoid traffic.
Looking beyond Bahrain, Stella expressed wariness about teams like Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes. He reminded everyone that the gaps in performance are still narrow. “At the Chinese Grand Prix, for example, the result felt a bit random. In Japan, we were outqualified and outperformed in the race. We must stay realistic about our performance level,” he explained.
When it comes to the narrative of McLaren’s potential ‘dominance,’ Stella was firm in his response: “I find the term ‘dominance’ misplaced, and sometimes it even comes from our competitors. It’s part of the game to put pressure on others, but we remain calm and focused on improving.”
Stella also addressed the challenges faced by Lando Norris, who has been struggling to adapt to the MCL39. Norris himself has admitted that the car is difficult to drive and harder to adapt to his driving style. Stella confirmed this, acknowledging that certain aspects of the car haven’t fully aligned with Norris’ preferences. “We’ve identified the issue and made adjustments for this race, aiming to improve predictability with regard to Lando’s inputs,” he said.
The rivalry between Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri has also intensified this season, with Piastri making strides, especially in qualifying. “Oscar has gained confidence and is putting together better performances,” Stella observed. “Both drivers are pushing each other, and this synergy is raising the overall performance of the team.”
Finally, when questioned about the team’s strategy at Suzuka, where Norris felt McLaren played it too conservatively, Stella explained: “At the start of the season, we tend to avoid overly aggressive strategies. In Suzuka, we wouldn’t have approached the race any differently, unless it was the final race of the year with championships on the line. The risks of aggressive strategies can be costly, and the beginning of the season isn’t the time to take those chances.”
With the season still unfolding, McLaren is determined to keep improving and stay focused on their goals, knowing that every race will bring new challenges and opportunities to refine their approach.
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McLaren’s Bold Push for Glory: Stella Keeps Reality in Focus McLaren’s Bold Push for Glory: Stella Keeps Reality in Focus
