Stella warns Ferrari could hold Madring advantage after surprise filming day
Ferrariâs unexpected Madring running raises questions
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes Ferrari could carry a small early advantage into the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix after completing a filming day at Madridâs new Madring circuit.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton shared driving duties in Ferrariâs SF-26, using the full 200 kilometres permitted under the regulations. The session was formally promotional: teams must run Pirelli demonstration tyres, while test equipment is prohibited. That framework is designed to limit the competitive value of filming days, although any running can still provide a baseline understanding of a new venue.
Ferrariâs visit was not communicated to the other teams, leaving McLaren and its rivals to learn about the session after it had taken place. Stella said the available footage was the only direct reference his team had received.
âWe were not informed that Ferrari had this session in Madrid,â Stella told media. âActually, I think some images of filming were shared with the other teams.â
Why the advantage remains marginal
Stella was careful not to overstate the significance of Ferrariâs running. The demonstration tyres are not representative of race-weekend rubber, while the circuit itself was still in a poor condition during construction. That means the data gathered by Ferrari will have clear limitations when the full field arrives in September.
Even so, the McLaren boss accepted that Ferrari may have learned enough to avoid starting entirely from assumptions. The reference points could be especially useful with this yearâs power unit, although Stella stressed that any gain would be limited.
âThereâs always a little bit that you can learn,â he said. âYou have some references, especially with this yearâs power unit, you get some references such that you donât start from data that you have to completely assume because nobody has been there.â
He added: âSo possibly a little bit of an advantage. It arrived to us as a surprise, but nothing that goes against the regulations.â
The Madring, built around the IFEMA exhibition centre, is approximately 5.4 kilometres long and features around 20 corners. Its first Spanish Grand Prix is scheduled for 13 September, marking Formula 1âs return to Madrid after the 1981 race at Jarama. Charles Leclerc has already suggested the circuit will demand full commitment from drivers in qualifying; Ferrariâs early glimpse may now give it a modest head start in understanding that challenge. Read more about Leclercâs expectations for the Madring.
For McLaren, the priority is clear. As Stella put it, after a few laps around Madrid, the teams will move on and focus on the race weekend itself.
Simone Scanu
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.