Despite strong form, McLaren’s team principal says their lead depends on tire wear, not raw dominance or outright performance.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella is keeping expectations in check, despite recent strong performances. He insists that McLaren’s current edge isn’t as dominant as it may seem — and it’s all down to one key strength: tire management.
“Honestly, listening to some of our competitors, you’d think we were in a completely different league,” Stella said. “That’s just not the case.”
Stella pointed out that the McLaren MCL39 benefits from a car that’s particularly gentle on its rear tires — a factor that played in their favor in recent races with high tire degradation. But he emphasized that this doesn’t mean the team has pulled away from the pack.
“During the race, while we were on the same tire compounds, Russell was still right there putting pressure on us,” he explained. “It’s not like Oscar [Piastri] was cruising. He was pushing to build a gap. If you look back at Verstappen last year — he was pulling a second per lap. That’s what true dominance looks like.”
He added that McLaren’s advantage isn’t something they can rely on every weekend. “If the race had been hotter, the picture might have changed completely. The margins we’re talking about are very small. And when we raced in Japan, where degradation was low, we lost that edge.”
So while McLaren may be leading in both the constructors’ standings and the drivers’ battle, Stella is staying grounded. He credits the technical team for major behind-the-scenes improvements, particularly in how the car interacts with the tires — but he’s not calling it job done.
“It’s not just about aerodynamic grip,” he said. “We’ve made smart investments in how the car works with the tires. That’s where the real progress has come from. And I want to give full credit to our technical group — they’ve done an outstanding job.”
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Stella: Don’t Be Fooled by McLaren’s Recent Race Pace
Stella: Don’t Be Fooled by McLaren’s Recent Race Pace
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