Andrea Stella: McLaren has the potential to become a race winner in 2026

McLaren’s start to the 2026 Formula 1 season has been solid rather than spectacular, but inside the team there is clear belief that much more is to come.

“I think the MCL40 is a very high‑potential platform.”

Understanding the current deficit

“At the moment, our car, when we compare it to Ferrari and Mercedes, suffers a bit of a deficit in grip. So, Ferrari and Mercedes are faster than us in the corners.”

The issue, as identified by the team, is not confined to the chassis alone. There are gains still to be unlocked on the power unit side, particularly in how McLaren is extracting performance from the new‑generation Mercedes package.

“I think compared to Mercedes, we see that we are probably underexploiting the power unit a little bit. It was better in China compared to Australia.”

That progression already hints at improvement. Stella emphasized that the team is climbing a steep learning curve and working closely with HPP to ensure no performance is left untapped.

“We are on a steep learning curve when it comes to getting the most out of the power unit, which is positive, and we are working very well with HPP to make sure that we get on top of all the potential, extracting all the potential that is available in the power unit.”

A clear development direction

Where McLaren’s confidence truly lies is in its clarity of direction. Stella made it clear that the team understands exactly what needs to be addressed on the chassis side.

“Coming back on the chassis side, we understand exactly what to do in terms of putting in place the actions to improve the chassis furthermore.”

The roadmap is already in motion. Aerodynamic efficiency is the primary focus, with upgrades scheduled over the next few races.

“In fact, it’s just about bringing upgrades that will increase the aerodynamic efficiency. These will happen in the next couple of events.”

For Stella, the combination of improved power unit exploitation and targeted aerodynamic gains should generate a clear upward trend in performance.

“So I think from there we should see a positive trajectory and we are confident that McLaren will be in condition to compete for podiums and victories on merit within this season.”

After a steady opening phase, McLaren’s 2026 campaign now hinges on execution. The MCL40, by Stella’s own assessment, already possesses the foundations. The coming races will determine whether that potential can be transformed into genuine race‑winning performance.