Andrea Stella: We are confident that the new products will add value.

      Andrea Stella spoke about the steps McLaren is taking to catch up with the championship leaders and commented on the recent news regarding Gianpiero Lambiasi's upcoming move to the Woking team in 2028...

      Question: The start of the season left mixed impressions – what is this primarily related to? Andrea Stella: I agree, during the first part of the season we faced certain difficulties, mainly for two reasons. Firstly, we needed more time than we anticipated before we learned to fully unlock the potential of the power unit. Additionally, a number of technical issues hindered us, which not only significantly affected our results but also slowed down our learning process.

      Secondly, the pace of development of the MCL40 chassis was influenced by the fact that in 2025 we continued to fight for the championship win until the final stage of the season, and we had a somewhat different approach to building the car. We wanted to ensure that the first version of the chassis would allow for intensive upgrades.

      Everyone understands that adapting to the new regulations for 2026 will take time. But in short, it is for these two reasons that we found ourselves behind Mercedes and Ferrari, who were better prepared for the start of the season. However, there are also positive aspects, as we saw the first signs of progress already at the Suzuka stage, where Oscar Piastri finished in 2nd place.

      We notice that the pace of modernization is indeed encouraging, and although we still need to work on improving the reliability of the equipment and optimizing its performance, I believe we have already taken a step in the right direction.

      Question: Can we say that the long April break in the championship provides an additional opportunity for refining the MCL40? Andrea Stella: Absolutely, this is a chance to carry out the car's upgrades in a more stable and linear manner. We laid out our plans last winter, so we are preparing innovations specifically for the North American stages in Miami and Montreal, while the car has remained almost in the same specification as it was during the tests in Bahrain.

      We are going to present quite a large set of aerodynamic solutions, although, of course, implementing them during weekends that include a sprint will be challenging, considering that we will have very little time to test the new features. At both upcoming stages, we will have only one hour-long Friday practice session, but we are confident that the updates we are preparing should allow us to achieve the expected speed increase.

      At the same time, we must not forget that McLaren is a customer team competing against factory teams, which are supported by major automakers, while Formula 1 is characterized by a very high level of competition. Overall, such a start to the season is quite understandable, as these teams could simultaneously work on both the chassis and the power units...

      Nevertheless, McLaren's results in the previous two seasons indicate that even a customer team can win not only races but also championships. And if we recall 2023 and 2024, we managed to upgrade the car at such a pace that it allowed us to make up a very significant deficit. Perhaps we will need time, but we have everything necessary to solve this task.

      Question: What can you say about the performance of the team's drivers? Andrea Stella: First of all, I am very pleased with how Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris work with the team and how they interact with each other.

      The end of the previous championship was difficult for Oscar, and at the start of the new season, he had problems at two consecutive stages, which could have affected his mood; however, he demonstrates maturity and a desire for professional growth – all of this leaves a very good impression on me.

      Speaking of Lando, he fulfilled his childhood dream by becoming the world champion, but he has not changed at all, which is also very important. We know we can rely on both of our drivers, who are not only true masters in their own right but also excellent team players. This remains a crucial requirement that Zak Brown and I always impose on our drivers.

      Our results show that it is possible to win even if you allow your teammates to compete freely with each other.

      Question: When the regulations in Formula 1 change, it is always accompanied by discussions, but probably never before have the new rules sparked such heated debates. What position do you take as the head of McLaren and as a passionate fan of the sport? Andrea Stella: My point of view remains unchanged, whether I speak as the head of a championship team or as someone who has always loved racing and has been fortunate enough to make motorsport my profession. We all understand, and Stefano Domenicali recently reminded us, that the transition to new generation power units was necessary to ensure the arrival of several major automakers in Formula 1.

      Adapting to this regulation is not easy for teams, drivers, or fans. However, evaluating the results of the first months of the new season, we must remain objective. We cannot deny that the public's reaction has been generally positive, and the approval ratings, judging by the ratings of the first three races, are higher than in 2025. I won't even mention that the stands in Melbourne, Shanghai, and Suzuka were packed.

      But even after the very first tests, we at McLaren said that there are areas of the rules that could be improved. All stakeholders are already discussing this, including the drivers, who are the stars of our sport. The task is to make a series of decisions under the guidance of the FIA that will allow us to achieve these improvements.

      For example, I believe we can ensure that during qualifying, drivers can attack at full strength, and it is also necessary to analyze what happens on the tracks in terms of improving safety – this concerns both starts and situations where drivers are closely pursuing each other.

      In any case, everyone feels a sense of responsibility and is set for fruitful cooperation – this is the best we can do right now.

      Question: Last week, it was announced that Gianpiero Lambiasi will be joining McLaren – what can you say about this? Andrea Stella: Gianpiero's arrival will enhance the team's potential in the long term, but it can also be seen as another example of McLaren's attractiveness to the most talented people working in Formula 1... I am convinced that his decision was influenced by both the results McLaren is showing on the track and how the traditions and culture of our team are perceived from the outside.

      He will take on the responsibilities of the chief racing director – I am currently combining this position with that of team principal.

      Question: Do the rumors that have emerged regarding Gianpiero Lambiasi's news affect you? Andrea Stella: To be honest, some of these rumors, including those about astronomical salaries and some mythical preliminary agreements, make me smile. It seems that the 'silly season' in Formula 1 has started much earlier – that is, the season of rumors that usually begins closer to summer.

      But I have been used to this for a long time, so I can only laugh. I would use this comparison: it seems that some pastry chef, out of envy, decided to spoil McLaren's preparation of a delicious dessert. But we are very good at distinguishing quality ingredients from poisoned biscuits...