The dominant performance of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the Australian GP even surprised the McLaren team management. The latter had an unfortunate spin in the final stages of the race, but otherwise, there was a high chance that both papayas would have ended up on the podium. Team boss Andrea Stella knew that McLaren had built a potent car with the MCL39, but was amazed at the absolute speed in Melbourne.
After the race, in which Lando Norris ultimately triumphed over rival Max Verstappen, Stella admitted that McLaren was even more competitive than initially thought. “In a way, this is a small surprise for us, how competitive the car is,” he responded to the media in Australia. “Let me add that the degree of competitiveness surprises me, not the fact that we have achieved our objectives in this area.”
‘The pecking order is still unknown’
Stella explained that McLaren, as the reigning world champion, has set ambitious goals for the anniversary season. He emphasized aerodynamic efficiency, mechanical improvements, and above all, tyre management. According to the competition, the British racing team excels particularly in the latter area. “We wanted to be ambitious,” Stella confirmed. “We know that Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull can compete with us in such a way that there is no room for complacency.” McLaren did take the title in 2024, but the championship was only decided during the very last Grand Prix.
Despite the victory in Melbourne, Stella wants to put McLaren’s current lead into perspective. According to him, Ferrari in particular has not yet shown the true potential of the SF-25. “I actually think that Ferrari is not that far from us,” he stated. “We will see a lot more from them. So far, we have achieved our goals, but honestly, the upcoming races can really provide insight into the actual pecking order. Circuits like Shanghai and Suzuka can give a much better indication of the hierarchies among the top teams.”
