McLaren Boss Stella Explains Why Team Has Fallen Behind F1 Rivals

Posted : 07 July 2026

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has identified the team's slower upgrade programme as the main reason it has slipped behind Ferrari and Mercedes following a disappointing British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone.

McLaren struggled for pace throughout the event, with the MCL40 proving difficult to drive in changing conditions. Lando Norris salvaged fourth place in the Grand Prix after benefiting from Max Verstappen's retirement and Kimi Antonelli's mechanical issue, while Oscar Piastri recovered to finish 11th after early contact with Liam Lawson damaged his front wing.

Norris also claimed third in the Sprint race, but the overall performance underlined McLaren's recent decline compared to its closest rivals.

Speaking after the race weekend, Stella admitted the team has fallen out of step with the rapid development pace shown by Ferrari and Mercedes.

"I think the fact that we are out of sync with upgrades is probably the biggest single factor," Stella said.

He explained that rival teams have gained significant lap time through recent development packages, estimating the improvements at around three-tenths of a second. While that alone would not erase McLaren's estimated half-second deficit, he believes it remains a major factor in the team's current struggles.

McLaren last introduced a major upgrade package at the Miami Grand Prix. Since then, several new components have encountered setbacks. A revised front wing was withdrawn after its debut in Canada before returning later in the season, while a new rear wing introduced in Austria was ultimately not raced after engineers raised performance concerns.

Fresh upgrades are expected to arrive at the Hungarian Grand Prix as McLaren looks to regain lost ground in the constructors' championship.

Stella also pointed to Silverstone's challenging conditions as another reason for the team's lack of competitiveness. Low grip levels, unpredictable winds and high-speed corners exposed weaknesses in the MCL40, making the car difficult for both drivers to handle.

He added that teams with greater aerodynamic grip and downforce enjoyed a clear advantage at the British circuit because their cars were more stable and predictable throughout the lap.

Another area McLaren is working to improve is power unit performance. The team has yet to introduce Mercedes' latest engine specification, which is already being used by customer teams Alpine and Williams. Reports suggest McLaren could receive the updated power unit before the summer break.

Stella believes there is still room to unlock more performance from the current package through improved power unit management and optimisation, rather than relying solely on outright engine upgrades.

Despite the recent setbacks, McLaren remains confident that upcoming developments and continued refinement of the MCL40 will help close the gap to Ferrari and Mercedes during the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

McLaren Boss Stella Explains Why Team Has Fallen Behind F1 Rivals

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics