McLaren defends development freeze amid Red Bull’s push

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has shed light on why the reigning Constructors’ champions have resisted the temptation to respond to Red Bull’s late-season development surge – even as Max Verstappen claws his way back into title contention.

While Red Bull has doubled down on upgrades to its RB21 – including yet another floor update introduced this weekend in Mexico City – McLaren has called time on its MCL39’s evolution.

And according to Stella, that’s not a sign of complacency, but of foresight.

“The 2026 project would be heavily compromised,” Stella admitted when asked in Mexico City what would’ve happened if McLaren had kept updating its current car.

“We want to win championships in the future. To win championships in the future you need to have a competitive car. We have been very considerate in the timing of switching our full resources to 2026.”

The Cost of Chasing Marginal Gains

Stella explained that McLaren’s performance curve had reached a “plateau” – meaning further upgrades would yield diminishing returns. In contrast, Red Bull’s rougher start to 2025 may have given it more straightforward improvements to capitalize on.

“It takes weeks for us to add one point of aerodynamic efficiency because we were at the plateau in our aerodynamic development,” he said.

“In the 2026 car, every week we add a lot of downforce. So that’s where, with the best information you have available, you have to make a call.”

The Italian also highlighted a key handicap McLaren faces as reigning champions: reduced wind tunnel and CFD allowances under F1’s performance-balancing rules.

“We also don’t have to forget that by being the champions, we are the most restricted by the regulations in terms of the wind tunnel allowance and the CFD allowance,” he explained.

“So it’s not like we have an unlimited amount of resources that we can use. It comes from the same pot when it comes to CFD and aerodynamic wind tunnel testing.”

The Need To Be Realistic

With the current car nearing its limit, Stella said the team had to make a pragmatic call.

“Because we were so much in the diminishing returns, we needed to be realistic and shift our attention to 2026,” he said.

And while Red Bull’s persistence might still pay off in the short term, Stella suspects it comes with a price.

“When we consider some of the complaints they had at the start of the season, perhaps they had more margin to develop efficiently, focusing on 2025, and perhaps they are happier to give up a little bit of the 2026.”

For McLaren, the message is clear: keep the future in focus – even if it means letting Red Bull have one last swing.

Read also: Red Bull bolsters Verstappen’s title chase with updated RB21 floor

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