Andrea Stella sees the interruption of the calendar as an unexpected opportunity. The British team intends to come back stronger, with ambitions raised.
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Formula 1 had to revise its plans after the postponement — or even cancellation — of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, a direct consequence of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. An exceptional situation that offered teams a five-week break between Suzuka and Miami.
For Andrea Stella, this context is obviously regrettable in essence.
“We have free time for the wrong reasons” he admits. But in a particularly busy calendar, this break ultimately comes at the right time for McLaren.
After an intense winter and a pressured start to the season, this breather allows the team to catch their breath… while working deeply on their car.
Aerodynamics at the heart of priorities
The main project identified by McLaren concerns the aerodynamic performance of their MCL40. Stella does not hide that progress still needs to be made to fully exploit the car’s potential.
“This break gives us the opportunity to produce upgrades to bring to the track to make the car faster, especially aerodynamically” he explains.
This extra time is precious in a context where development deadlines are usually very tight. The team can thus fine-tune their new parts before their race introduction, with the clear goal of making a step forward in performance.
Enhanced work on the Mercedes engine
Beyond aerodynamics, McLaren also wants to optimize the use of their power unit, developed in collaboration with Mercedes. The potential is there, but its exploitation is not yet fully achieved.
Stella emphasizes the importance of this foundational work, especially in connection with the engine manufacturer teams.
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“It gives us time to finalize all the necessary tools to fully exploit the engine” he specifies.
The progress glimpsed at Suzuka, notably with Oscar Piastri’s second place, confirms that the team is moving in the right direction. But to compete with the best teams, every detail counts.
Recharging the batteries… also internally
This break does not only benefit the car. It also allows the human teams to catch their breath after a particularly demanding period.
“It’s one of the most intense winters I’ve experienced in Formula 1” Stella points out. Between season preparation and winter testing, the pace left little respite for the teams.
In a season that promises to be long, this break therefore offers a rare opportunity to recover, a factor often underestimated but essential to maintain performance over time.
Miami in the sights, with ambitions raised
With this extra working time, McLaren hopes to close the gap on their main rivals and get closer to the front. The goal is clear: to fight for better positions as soon as the season resumes.
“We want to be able to fight for better results when we return to the track, starting with Miami” states Stella.
In an increasingly tight grid, this break could reshuffle the cards. And if McLaren manages to fully exploit this opportunity, the team could more regularly join the fight for victory.
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