Stella warns Ferrari could hold Madring advantage after surprise filming day

Ferrari’s 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 Madrid’s new Madring circuit.

Ferrari’s 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.

Why the advantage remains marginal

Stella was careful not to overstate the significance of Ferrari’s 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 year’s power unit, although Stella stressed that any gain would be limited.

“There’s always a little bit that you can learn,” he said. “You have some references, especially with this year’s power unit, you get some references such that you don’t start from data that you have to completely assume because nobody has been there.”

He added: “So possibly a little bit of an advantage. It arrived to us as a surprise, but nothing that goes against the regulations.”

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 1’s return to Madrid after the 1981 race at Jarama. Charles Leclerc has already suggested the circuit will demand full commitment from drivers in qualifying; Ferrari’s early glimpse may now give it a modest head start in understanding that challenge. Read more about Leclerc’s 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.