Is McLaren testing new systems during pit stops? Andrea Stella confirms the theory. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella confirmed that the team has been experimenting with updated pit stop hardware.

Brilliant, but not flawless. These two words might best describe the men and women behind McLaren’s success during the 2025 Formula 1 season — a campaign that will long be remembered after the team clinched the Constructors’ Championship with six races to spare.

The entire team has done an exceptional job, but not everything has gone perfectly. One of the biggest issues surfaced right after the summer break, when McLaren began experiencing problems with their pit stops. The stop times suddenly increased — dramatically compared to the first half of the season. Initially, the delays seemed to affect only Lando Norris, but later, as seen at the Singapore Grand Prix, even championship leader Oscar Piastri was impacted.

McLaren identifies the issue and starts revising its wheel guns

At first, the team’s errors appeared random. Analysts and fans began wondering about the possible causes, even speculating that McLaren might be conducting in-race testing for the 2026 season. According to reports from The Race, that assumption wasn’t far from the truth.

McLaren is believed to have made a recent hardware modification to its pit stop equipment, and ever since the update was introduced, things have not gone as smoothly as before. Team principal Andrea Stella confirmed this, explaining: “Our hardware systems make the tightening process a little more complex than it should be. We have identified the issue and are making corrective changes, but the effects of this process will only be seen in 2026.”

According to The Race, the component in question is the wheel gun itself. The team has reportedly redesigned the device in preparation for the upcoming season and is taking advantage of its early title victory to test and resolve early reliability issues before the start of the next championship. By doing so, McLaren aims to gain a competitive edge when racing resumes next year.

“In the factory, the focus is on refining the design process,” added the Italian-born team principal. “It’s a very holistic and extensive activity that includes not only corrections but also practical testing. Despite the current challenges, I’m satisfied with what we’re doing in terms of review, action, and planning for the future.”