McLaren’s start to the season is solid without being spectacular, but its team principal Andrea Stella believes that the MCL40 has all the ingredients to become a car capable of winning.
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Speaking after the Japanese Grand Prix, Stella gave a detailed analysis of the car’s strengths, weaknesses, and development trajectory with a message of measured optimism.
Asked directly about the capabilities of the MCL40, Stella did not hesitate: “I think the MCL40 is a platform with very high potential.”
Rapid progress
This confidence is based on McLaren’s understanding of its current shortcomings compared to its main rivals. Stella frankly acknowledged the areas in which Ferrari and Mercedes maintain an advantage: “At the moment, our car, compared to Ferrari and Mercedes, suffers from a grip deficit. Ferrari and Mercedes are therefore faster than us in the corners.”
The team’s analysis shows that this deficit is not limited to the chassis. Stella also admitted that McLaren is still learning to fully exploit the new generation of Mercedes power unit: “I think compared to Mercedes, we find that we are probably under-exploiting the engine a bit. It was better in China than in Australia.”
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The encouraging point, according to him, is that the learning curve is fast and moving in the right direction: “We are on a very fast learning curve to get the most out of the engine, which is positive, and we are working very well with HPP to ensure we exploit all the available potential.”
Positive spiral
But the heart of McLaren’s confidence lies in the chassis and the aerodynamic package. Stella made it clear that the team knows exactly where to focus its efforts: “As far as the chassis is concerned, we understand exactly what actions to put in place to continue improving it.”
The next steps are already underway: “It’s simply a matter of bringing upgrades that will increase aerodynamic efficiency. They will arrive in the next few races.”
These improvements should, according to Stella, unlock the performance needed to fight at the front on a regular basis: “So I think we’re going to see a positive trajectory and we’re confident that McLaren will be able to fight for podiums and wins on merit during this season.”
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