McLaren has surrendered its F1 Constructors’ crown, but Andrea Stella has made it clear that the team has no intention of easing off.
With its attention increasingly turning towards next year’s contender, the Woking outfit is pressing ahead with its development programme, and another batch of upgrades is already scheduled for next week’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Lando Norris provided an emphatic demonstration of the benefits of McLaren’s latest technical package in Sao Paulo, converting pole position into victory after the team arrived at Interlagos with an assortment of new components.
The revised front wing, floor design changes and rear wing and beam wing combination represented a significant development step, with the front wing element particularly interesting as it is understood to incorporate elements intended for McLaren’s 2027 challenger.
More importantly, the improvements have delivered an immediate competitive dividend, restoring McLaren's ability to challenge at the front after a spell in which rival teams had gradually gained the upper hand.
Developing tomorrow's car while fighting today
Stella is encouraged not only by the performance unlocked in Brazil but also by the direction of travel.
The Italian believes McLaren's earlier development efforts had initially delivered the necessary progress, only for competitors to respond with upgrades of their own.
“After the upgrades in Hungary, it was encouraging that we were in a position to win – we should have won Madrid, really – but after that, other people took upgrades and we lost this position,” Stella said, quoted by RACER.
The team principal also acknowledged that qualifying shortcomings had compounded McLaren's difficulties, potentially obscuring just how competitive its package could have been at several recent events.
“I think we also paid the price of not having had great qualifying sessions,” he added.
“It would have been interesting to see Lando starting from the front in races like Austin or Mexico. I think it would have been definitely a fight for the podium.
“But it’s thanks to these upgrades that we are now in a condition to fight for the victory, combined with the [wet] conditions, surely.
“These upgrades, first of all, they will be complemented by some more parts that come in Vegas, and they form the foundation for what will be next year’s car.
“So it’s encouraging for the trajectory of McLaren that we seem to be able to transform our development into performance on track.”
That confirmation of further additions in Las Vegas underlines the team's determination to keep extracting performance from its current development programme rather than simply diverting all available resources towards 2027.
Execution matters as much as engineering
McLaren’s success at Interlagos was not solely a story about aerodynamic improvements. Stella was equally pleased with how the team handled the operational demands of a race that required sound judgement and flawless coordination in changeable conditions.
McLaren had endured some frustrating moments earlier in the season, with inconsistent pit stops and difficult strategic calls occasionally undermining its potential. In Sao Paulo, those weaknesses were far less apparent, allowing the team to make the most of its technical progress.
“It’s also important for McLaren that we had solid pit stops, because we don’t come from a period of consistent pit stops,” the Italian said.
“And also execution in these mixed conditions, because we’ve had some disappointing races, like in Canada, where we were starting with the intermediate tires and the double extra formation lap. It was unlucky, honestly.
“So it’s good that we were able to master these conditions at the pit wall as well. And I’m very proud to have seen the team operating at this very high level.”
Stella, however, was gracious in acknowledging the achievements of Mercedes this season, recognising the level of competition against which the Brackley squad delivered its championship-winning campaign.
“I take the opportunity to congratulate Mercedes on winning the constructors’ championship,” the McLaren boss concluded.
“Formula 1 is operating, like I’ve been saying for some time, at a very high level, very high standards.
“To be able to win in this kind of competitive context is a reflection of great work that must have happened at Mercedes. They certainly deserve to be acknowledged.”
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