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McLaren’s Stellar Race Pace Raises the Bar, Predicts Top-Six Faceoff in Upcoming F1 Season

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
February 28, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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McLaren’s Stellar Race Pace Raises the Bar, Predicts Top-Six Faceoff in Upcoming F1 Season

Formula One F1 - Pre-Season testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 27, 2025 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during testing REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki

McLaren’s Andrea Stella shares an optimistic outlook on the team’s race pace following testing, while simultaneously cautioning about the potential for heightened competition this season. Stella’s comments came after witnessing Carlos Sainz set a brisk pace for Williams on the second day of testing in Bahrain, wrapping up his pre-season schedule.

While McLaren didn’t execute a low fuel lap, Stella took note of Lando Norris’s performance during race simulations. Norris seemed to have an advantage over rivals from Ferrari and Mercedes on comparable runs, a development Stella recognized as noteworthy.

Stella emphasized that while the team is cognizant of their competitors’ performance, their primary focus remains on their own data and car behavior. The team’s attention has been on comparing the car’s performance with their expectations, particularly from an aerodynamic and mechanical perspective.

McLaren has introduced innovative changes to the car layout, and the initial days of testing have been spent ensuring the car performs as expected. Stella underlined the importance of not getting sidetracked by competitors’ performance, as tempting as it may be.

The long-run pace looks promising, according to Stella. However, he also acknowledged that several cars demonstrated the capability to deliver highly competitive lap times on low fuel, posing a challenge in absolute terms.

Stella mused on the evolution of competition in Formula 1. Once, discussions focused on the top three, then McLaren joined the fray, and now, he suggests, the conversation could include the top five or six teams, which he views as a positive development for the sport.

In terms of mid-table performers from last year, both Williams and Alpine have shown promising pace thus far. However, Stella urged caution in reading too much into average lap times from race simulations, given the unique conditions this week, including cool and damp weather.

Stella explained that the team’s long run was designed to test the three tire compounds and their behavior. This is particularly important since Pirelli has altered the nature of the compounds compared to last year, and they appear to be different.

Stella emphasized that the tests were conducted in unique conditions with cold tarmac and air temperature, making the information gathered valuable but necessitating careful interpretation. The early races of the season will put different stresses on the tires, and the interaction between the car and the tires will be significantly different.

While early indications from Bahrain suggest positive interaction between the McLaren car and the tires, Stella underscored that these results were obtained in specific conditions, and the team must remain vigilant as the season progresses.

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