Stella believes McLaren can still overtake Mercedes despite the gap.

      McLaren's chief Andrea Stella maintains that the reigning champions are not concerned, even though he acknowledges that Mercedes currently has a distinct advantage in the new era of Formula 1. The Woking outfit arrived at Silverstone after Lando Norris stated that McLaren is approximately "three months behind" Mercedes in development under the 2026 regulations. Stella concurs that the gap is considerable but believes it is far from impossible to overcome.

      "The competition for the top will be fierce among several teams," he mentioned to Corriere della Sera. "It will rely on how many significant updates we can implement." He highlighted Red Bull's comeback in Austria following their substantial upgrade package. "I'm not surprised that Red Bull is leading in Austria—just look at the new enhancements they've introduced. We're likely around 3-4 tenths behind the leaders; the figures are quite evident, but we know precisely what steps to take. I'm not the slightest bit concerned; I trust in our ability to respond."

      Stella also indicated that Mercedes’ advantage has not remained static. "If they had arrived at the last race with the same car from Melbourne, they wouldn't have claimed victory," he remarked. "They introduce something new to each grand prix. It's a competition of innovation." Furthermore, Stella acknowledged his frustration at seeing McLaren's championship-winning momentum disrupted by the overhaul of the 2026 regulations. "It would be easy to deny it. But there is some frustration," he confessed. "Just when we began to reap the benefits of our investments and efforts, everything shifted. However, we stopped dwelling on it a long time ago because we take pride in the trophies on display in our museum. It’s vital to prove that we can win even amid such upheaval. It's tempting to remain in a comfort zone, but we think differently."

      He also reiterated that McLaren's role as a customer team for Mercedes has brought unforeseen challenges. "For the first time, it has led to a disadvantage," Stella acknowledged. "We faced reliability issues, but now we have a more effective partnership with the engine department. They’ve assisted us, and we are gaining deeper insights into the usage of electricity."