Andrea Stella offered a measured and clear-headed analysis of McLaren’s Japanese Grand Prix weekend. While the team showed tangible progress, there are still key areas that require improvement. His words paint the picture of a team steadily building its technical identity—aware that it can fight near the front, but also conscious that further steps are needed to consistently challenge the very best.
Stella evaluates the battle with Mercedes and Piastri’s pace
First of all, Stella reflected on how McLaren might have fared against Mercedes over the course of the race:
“Well, it would have certainly been interesting to see if it was possible. I think today we could have competed with George Russell, who was slightly faster than us, but Oscar had the advantage of being ahead. It looked like, when Oscar was in the right rhythm, he was able to keep him behind. We would have had a chance with Russell. It’s not clear whether we could have stayed ahead of Antonelli, who was recovering positions on track. There are many ‘what ifs’, but the important point is not about the ‘if’ or the ‘what’. It’s about the fact that the progress we saw in qualifying was confirmed in the race, and that gives us a solid foundation going into the break, during which we will work hard to improve the car.”
Focus on Norris and the value of his race performance
Stella then turned his attention to Lando Norris, underlining the importance of his contribution despite a challenging weekend:
“Lando drove a strong race. He was in a good position to overtake Hamilton towards the end. Yesterday we said it would be good to fight with Ferrari, and that’s exactly what happened. He was somewhat held back by the team because we had several issues in practice. He had very limited track time. I don’t think he ever completed two consecutive laps before the race. So, credit to Lando—he scored important points for the team today.”
A solid foundation, but more work ahead
Stella’s comments outline a McLaren team that is methodically building a stronger platform. The pace is improving, race management is becoming more refined, and the drivers are delivering when it matters. However, the team principal remains realistic: closing the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari will require continuous development, precision, and consistency.
The direction is encouraging, and Suzuka provided valuable confirmation that the MCL40 is moving forward. But the road to the very top is still long—and Andrea Stella knows better than anyone that progress alone is not enough without the final step in performance.
Leave a Reply