Andrea Stella: The pressure increases with each stage.

      McLaren team principal Andrea Stella on driver competition and the car’s strengths…

      Question: Andrea, your team has won 10 out of 13 Grands Prix so far. You previously worked at Ferrari when that team was dominant. How does this season differ?

      Andrea Stella: Comparing different seasons is difficult. In this case, we're comparing teams, but at Ferrari I was in a different role, saw everything from a different perspective. But if we talk about the features of McLaren’s successful period, I’d say we’re progressing even faster than Ferrari did back then.

      Another feature is that we don’t have superstars. This reflects the path of a true team, and it applies even to the drivers. I’d say these are the two main aspects of McLaren’s approach.

      Question: Are you surprised by the dominance this season?

      Andrea Stella: Yes. I was surprised by our competitiveness. Last year, when discussing upgrades, we set ambitious goals. We wanted to try to eliminate the uncertainty before race weekends—never knowing who would win, as it was last year.

      We realized we needed to do a bit more than usual. We chose a very aggressive approach. The MCL39 was a very innovative car. From an engineering standpoint, we were nervous whether we could implement some solutions. But looking at lap times and simulator data, it became clear that wasn’t enough. Early in the season, that truly was insufficient. So another important event this season was the car upgrade.

      I believe that when we used comprehensive updates, it showed more clearly. This time, we introduced new features gradually. All this contributed to us being very competitive in the last three races.

      Question: There’s almost an equal fight between Oscar and Lando. How do you think it will end?

      Andrea Stella: It’s important that we, as a team, play a positive role, which means providing Lando and Oscar with a fast car that allows them to fight for wins under any conditions. Factors like reliability, operational issues, or bad pit stops shouldn’t influence this fight. That’s the team’s responsibility.

      As for Lando and Oscar’s results, they depend largely on execution—racecraft, driving skill, penalties, and consistency. The closer we get to the end, the more stability will be a crucial factor.

      Question: If the championship is decided only in the final races, do you think your drivers will take more risks?

      Andrea Stella: With each stage, pressure naturally increases—as the number of races decreases, each one becomes more important.

      Over time, analyzing each race, we’ve developed a reliable approach. Lando and Oscar contributed to it. It’s not that the team created this racing approach and now Lando and Oscar follow it; we developed it together, as a team, including the drivers. We have a very solid foundation, which will become increasingly important as the value of each race grows toward the season’s end.

      Question: There’s a feeling, at least from the outside, that McLaren is the only team whose updates don’t have side effects affecting handling. How do you explain that?

      Andrea Stella: For innovations—whether mechanical or aerodynamic—to be successful, you need a combination of several factors. There are no secrets to success in Formula 1, nothing that can be considered a cure-all. It’s about working on fundamental principles.

      It’s important not only to generate ideas, like creating new floor geometries or front wing designs, but also to understand the methodologies behind that development—knowing when these methodologies will be not just innovative but also reliable on track.

      This is part of the team’s know-how, defined by the simple statement: “Let’s create know-how for the best correlation,” but it’s one of the most complex tasks for any F1 team. We have invested heavily in this area.

      I must praise our people’s qualities; even when we talk about methodologies, it’s always about the people. I’m very fortunate to rely on highly competent leaders and a very talented team.

      Question: On Thursday, Max Verstappen said that McLaren cars are incredibly effective in mid-speed corners. Is that your strength?

      Andrea Stella: The answer is simple—just look at the GPS data. When comparing speed with other teams, data shows that McLaren is the fastest in mid-speed corners. Max’s assessment is correct.

      We have weaknesses—for example, in high-speed turns like Copse or Pouhon, we’re not the fastest. Similarly, at very low speeds, we might not be the quickest. But most corners in the championship are mid-speed, and within this range, our car is the best.

      Question: At the start of the season, Lando Norris was considered the favorite; he had more experience, competed in more Grands Prix, and was a title contender last year. Did he face more pressure because everyone expected him to win?

      Andrea Stella: Lando indeed completed more races than Oscar. He started the season in Australia with a good result, and Oscar was close—he only lost points due to a sudden rain shower.

      One of Oscar’s qualities is his ability to learn quickly—very quickly. He demonstrated this early in his career, winning several youth series in his debut season. Now he’s showing that trait at McLaren.

      Currently, Lando and Oscar are performing at roughly the same level. It’s worth acknowledging that some upgrades to the original car design have affected Lando’s driving style. The car has been further developed, and now the setups used by Lando and Oscar are slightly different, but both drivers can drive as they prefer, showcase their talent, and we see that their results are very close.

      A level playing field in the fight for the title is what Formula 1 needs. We have strived for that and believe the intrigue will last until the season’s end. Of course, we do not rule out Max’s challenge in this fight. We stay focused and move forward race by race.