Andrea Stella, head of the McLaren team, has analyzed the possibility that his team could fight for a podium position during the Japanese Grand Prix. After a challenging start to the season, with only one participation from Lando Norris in the opening race, McLaren showed improvements at the Suzuka circuit.
In a standout day, Oscar Piastri, who had not yet competed this season, achieved a third position in qualifying, while Norris secured fifth place. Stella stated that there are signs of advancement in terms of performance and overall competitiveness.
“We believe that this improvement comes from the fact that we are making better use of the chassis and the car setup, and above all, we are learning to extract more from the engine,” Stella commented. He also added that the team has been gaining more experience with the power unit, working closely with Mercedes engineers.
However, Stella has expressed reservations about the ability to compete with Ferrari for a podium spot. “So far, Ferrari has proven to have a higher competitive pace during races. I would be surprised if we could fight them for a podium,” he indicated, with Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton starting the Grand Prix from fourth and sixth positions, respectively.
Despite this, Stella is optimistic: “We have seen progress this weekend, and we hope to be in the fight. Nevertheless, we know we need to improve the car and bring updates for the upcoming races. This is our plan for the next competition.”
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
