“We worked very well. On track as well as in Woking.” With these words, Andrea Stella summed up the path taken by McLaren during winter testing ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Across nine days of testing between Barcelona and Bahrain, the MCL40 completed more than 1,000 laps and covered every item on the program set out by the team. In terms of the competitive hierarchy, McLaren appears to be part of a tightly contested leading quartet.
Although the team principal remains convinced that “Ferrari and Mercedes are a step ahead of everyone,” the Woking-based outfit could still spring a surprise at the opening race of the season. The data gathered during pre-season testing suggests that the potential of the MCL40 may not yet have been fully revealed, leaving room for optimism within the British squad.
Looking ahead to the Australian Grand Prix, McLaren will introduce “some small aerodynamic updates” along with “significant work in terms of weight reduction, which will allow the team to improve not only performance but also the overall balance of the car.” As previously anticipated and later confirmed by Stella himself, the MCL40 is among the cars expected to shed weight over the course of the season. This development indicates that the potential glimpsed between Barcelona and Bahrain was far from the car’s true ceiling.
Another crucial aspect ahead of the first race weekend of the 2026 F1 season will be “how we decide to use our power unit.” During winter testing, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ran an earlier specification of the Mercedes power unit. In Australia, however, they will have access to the latest version, powered by the Petronas-homologated fuel developed specifically for the new season. This upgrade could play a key role in unlocking additional performance, particularly in qualifying trim and race starts.
Stella: “There must be willingness to change the regulations. The interests of the sport come before individual ones”
The preparation work leading up to the 2026 campaign has also left both drivers satisfied. “They are both positive,” Stella explained. “Lando and Oscar were able to test the car consistently, allowing us to improve the overall performance of the package.” Continuity and mileage proved essential in understanding the new technical framework and optimizing the car’s setup across different track conditions.
According to Stella, the driver’s role will be even more decisive than in previous seasons: “Driver talent and the ability to exploit every tool available have never been so important, starting from the race start.” In an era defined by increasingly complex hybrid systems, fine margins, and evolving regulations, extracting maximum performance from the car requires not only technical excellence but also precision and adaptability from those behind the wheel.
Speaking of race starts, McLaren is among the teams that have requested a regulatory modification aimed at improving the launch phase of Grands Prix. The proposed change has been justified primarily on safety grounds, though it also comes in the context of difficulties shown by the Mercedes power unit during initial acceleration. Stella addressed the topic directly: “There must be willingness to intervene in the regulations to correct potential issues, and we appreciate how Formula 1 is addressing these matters with the awareness that the interests of the sport are more important than individual ones.”
His comments underline a broader philosophy within McLaren and across the paddock: maintaining competitive integrity and safety must take precedence over short-term competitive advantages. As the 2026 Formula 1 season approaches, the combination of technical evolution, regulatory discussions, and intense on-track rivalry promises a fascinating campaign. For McLaren, the objective is clear—continue refining the MCL40, maximize the upgraded Mercedes power unit package, and ensure that both Norris and Piastri are fully equipped to capitalize on every opportunity from the very first lights-out moment in Melbourne.
The collaborative tone struck by Andrea Stella reflects a McLaren team that feels technically secure but remains politically vigilant as the 2026 era begins. By framing the request for start-line rule changes as a matter of “sporting interest” rather than a fix for Mercedes’ specific launch struggles, Stella is navigating the complex waters of F1 politics with his trademark diplomatic precision. As the MCL40 prepares to shed weight and gain aerodynamic efficiency in the coming rounds, the focus on Woking isn’t just on catching the “step ahead” Ferrari and Mercedes cars, but on ensuring the regulatory landscape remains fair for all competitors.
Leave a Reply