McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, remains grounded about the challenges ahead, even after a successful showing at the Japanese Grand Prix. Though they secured second and third places at Suzuka, many feel McLaren missed their chance to keep Max Verstappen from victory.
Stella, however, acknowledges there’s still ground to cover to remain competitive this F1 season, which promises to be a pivotal one before a major overhaul in the regulations. With the dawn of a new era approaching, all teams are expected to shift their focus early on.
Reflecting on Suzuka’s success, Stella shared, “As we gear up for Bahrain’s first night race of the season, we’re encouraged by the MCL39’s performance in the initial races. But we know there’s substantial effort needed to keep our edge.”
McLaren, led by drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, has been sharing wins with Verstappen so far. Despite hopes for a smoother run this year, the team anticipates making strides as they enter warmer climates like Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, where George Russell believes the MCL39 will truly shine.
However, Stella plays it cautiously when predicting what the team might face at the Sakhir International Circuit. “Our pre-season testing back in February was promising,” he stated, “yet we’re ready for different scenarios as we return in April.”
