McLaren’s Stella tells rivals: ‘Keep focusing on the wrong things’

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has delivered a sharp-tongued rebuke to rival teams chasing ghosts in the wake of his squad’s relentless form, dismissing claims that the secret to the MCL39’s success lies in its wing flexibility as pure fiction.

With five wins in six races this season and a Constructors’ title already secured last year, McLaren’s competitors have concocted theories about water-cooled tyres, magical rear tyre management, and – especially – flexible aerodynamic wings.

Yet, team principal Andrea Stella can barely contain his amusement at their misguided sleuthing, gleefully watching them lose their way while McLaren cruises ahead.

Rivals Lost in Aero Maze

“For us, it’s good news when our rivals get their focus – rather than on themselves – onto some of the aspects that allegedly are present in our car, and that effectively are not even present,” Stella told the media in Imola on Friday, his tone dripping with satisfaction.

"And certainly, even if they were – let’s say front wing deflection, like everyone else – it has nothing to do with the reason why McLaren is very competitive.

The FIA’s scrutineers have consistently given McLaren’s cars a clean bill of health, but rivals remain fixated on the notion that flexing front wings are the key to McLaren’s supremacy.

With stricter wing regulations looming in Barcelona, teams like Red Bull are clinging to hope that the clampdown will dent McLaren’s edge. Stella, however, isn’t sweating it.

“I hope that in the future there will be more of these kinds of sagas because it means that our rivals keep focusing on the wrong things, and this is, for us, just good news. It’s just helping our quest,” the Italian added.

Even Verstappen isn't Buyng It

While McLaren’s rivals obsess over phantom aero tricks, Stella’s squad continues to dominate, leaving the likes of Red Bull’s Helmut Marko to admit defeat.

“The championship becomes increasingly difficult or unrealistic,” Marko sighed, pinning faint hopes on Barcelona’s new rules.

• Read also: Stella reveals why McLaren won’t let up development push

Even Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s four-time champion, seems exasperated by his team’s fixation on McLaren’s supposed secrets.

“It’s a waste of time to think about these things,” Verstappen said, urging focus on Red Bull’s own shortcomings.

But with McLaren’s MCL39 proving untouchable on every track and tyre, as Marko lamented, the chasing pack’s treasure hunt for answers looks increasingly futile.

Stella, meanwhile, sits back, smirking, as his rivals stumble through their self-inflicted aero wild goose chase.

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