Following the wrap-up of three intensive days of F1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, Andrea Stella, the head of the McLaren team, took a moment to reflect on what turned out to be an impressive showing by his team in Sakhir. He approached the results with a measured optimism.
While McLaren didn’t clinch the fastest times on the second and third days, their performance in race simulations clearly demonstrated that they remain a formidable force, echoing the prowess they showcased last season.
Lando Norris completed 57 laps on the final day, posting a best lap time of 1m30.943s, earning him the 11th spot on the leaderboard. However, it was his performance on Day 2 that caught attention, as he consistently clocked lap times over half a second quicker than both Charles Leclerc and Andrea Kimi Antonelli during comparable weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri, gearing up for his third season with the team, seemed less at ease in the MCL39 compared to Norris. Nonetheless, his race simulation on the final testing day still outperformed their direct competitors, indicating strong prospects for the season ahead.
Andrea Stella, despite his cautious outlook, recognized the productive nature of the testing. “These three days here in Bahrain have been very fruitful,” he remarked. “We completed essential aero tests and gave both Lando and Oscar the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the car’s capabilities before heading to Australia.”
He continued, “We also explored various set-up changes to deepen our understanding of the MCL39’s characteristics. The commitment from our team here and in Woking has been outstanding, ensuring we maximized every moment on track. Now, it’s time to dive into the data and fine-tune our approach as we prepare for the season opener in two weeks.”
With plenty of insights to digest, McLaren heads into the season well-prepared, their sights set firmly on the upcoming challenges.
