Latest news with #AndreaStella
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Andrea Stella: McLaren's F1 dominance shouldn't be 'comfortable'
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says his team won't take its foot off the throttle after another dominant 1-2 at the Belgian Grand Prix. Oscar Piastri won his sixth grand prix of the season ahead of Lando Norris after passing his team-mate at the start of a mixed weather race. The Australian eventually led Norris home for the team's third consecutive 1-2 victory. McLaren introduced its latest upgrades in Spa, a new low-downforce rear wing assembly that made its 2025 car more efficient and should also be used at other suitable circuits like Monza, Baku and Las Vegas. McLaren's dominance has shifted focus from any outside challenge by the likes of Max Verstappen, who left Belgium 81 points in arrears, to the papaya squad's intra-team battle between Piastri and Norris picking up steam as they attack the second half of the season. With just 16 points between them, McLaren is adamant it will let the title fight play out naturally between leader Piastri and challenger Norris. Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Lando Norris, McLaren "If I want it to be comfortable, then I'm not doing the right job," Stella said. "I'm not really interested in being comfortable, I'm interested in putting McLaren in the best possible position to succeed, which means competing for the constructors' world championship and, if possible, making sure that the drivers' world championship is a matter between the two McLaren drivers. "In addition to that, even if this doesn't make my life or Zak [Brown, CEO]'s life any simpler, we are also racing in a certain way, which is open, which may give our drivers the opportunity to express their talents, their aspirations, their quality, their constant development. "That's what we are here for, and we are very privileged to be in this position. Not only with the team we have, but with Oscar and Lando, who are two great drivers, but above all, two great individuals." McLaren's latest 1-2 lockout came at a historically difficult Spa-Francorchamps circuit as well, which Stella felt was "particularly important" as it showed just how much McLaren has improved its weaknesses over the past two years, with aerodynamic efficiency one key topic that has been completely turned around. Stella echoed Norris' recent comments that race weekend execution will be the deciding factor in the championship, with Norris and Piastri evenly trading blows but Norris having made more errors this year than his Australian team-mate. Read Also: F1 Belgian GP: Oscar Piastri beats Lando Norris after lengthy rain delay Why McLaren introduces F1 upgrades without racing them immediately "I think the execution is what is going to make the main difference," he agreed. "We will try and make sure that from a reliability point of view, from a team operation point of view, we are as good as possible, such that it will be the drivers deciding their own outcome in terms of competing for the drivers' world championship." To read more articles visit our website.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
McLaren Plans Multiple Strategies to Take on Red Bull in Belgian GP
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has given his verdict on the Belgian Grand Prix sprint race at Spa-Francorchamps, revealing that the cars have reached an aerodynamic "maturity." Thus, he remarked that his team was considering several strategies for the qualifying session and main race, suggesting that a victory remains in sight. The sprint race saw a tight battle between Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, with Lando Norris joining the party halfway. Piastri started on pole position after breaking the lap record at Spa on Friday, but Verstappen was quick to pass him in the early stages. The four-time world champion maintained the lead as the clean air ahead played to his advantage. Unfortunately for Piastri, he had to deal with turbulent air, and given the high-speed nature of the circuit, he struggled to pass Verstappen, despite maintaining a consistent gap of nearly half a second. Stella pointed out that on a circuit like Spa, the car behind is at an advantage due to the long stretch that offers opponents a good enough slipstream. He said after the sprint race: Second placed Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren and Andrea Stella, Team Principal of McLaren talk in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit on April 06, 2025 in... Second placed Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren and Andrea Stella, Team Principal of McLaren talk in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit on April 06, 2025 in Suzuka, Japan. More"Well, this was a sprint where not much happened apart from the situation in the first lap, which is actually quite typical in Spa. Not necessarily you want to be the first car leaving corner one and then having to stay full throttle for 17 seconds - you become a bit exposed to the car behind. "So we saw this peculiarity today, and then in fairness, it was difficult to regain the position not only because of the top speed, but because we couldn't stay close enough in the second sector. "So again, this is a bit of a peculiarity of somehow the maturity that these cars have achieved from an aerodynamic point of view. Now the slipstream effect starts to be important." When asked if P2 and P3 would be good starting positions at Spa, Stella laughed, saying the top two positions are the goal for qualifying, but didn't rule out other strategies that could play out to the team's advantage. He said: "Well, at times during the sprint, I actually thought, what is the best position we want to qualify — P1, P2? Certainly, it won't be easy, but we will try, and I think in the race, we also have to remember that there are more options from a strategic point of view. "Tire degradation will be more important, so definitely we are here to try and win this race. It was also encouraging to see that both drivers seemed to have the pace today. I think if we were in the lead, we might have had the pace to just open up a gap compared to the others. So we look forward to qualifying and the remainder of the weekend."
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Why McLaren introduces F1 upgrades without racing them immediately
During the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone, McLaren introduced a completely new floor, as noted in the FIA's technical documents. The squad ran it during opening practice, but team principal Andrea Stella made clear that the new spec would be removed afterwards. 'The plan was always going to be that the floor was a test floor to have an early read on this new specification,' he said. Ahead of second practice, McLaren switched back to the older version - one Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured another 1-2 with. Reverting to the older floor was by no means a sign that the new one didn't live up to the team's expectations, but simply part of the predetermined plan. The new floor is expected to return during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend in Spa-Francorchamps, where it is set to be used in both qualifying and the races. 'The next race is a sprint event in which it's more difficult to introduce a new specification and make proper comparisons,' Stella said, explaining the rationale behind testing it at Silverstone. 'We are actually pretty pleased with what we have seen during free practice in Silverstone. All the indications seem to lead us to introducing this new floor for the upcoming events.' A sign of McLaren's luxury position in F1 – different situation at Red Bull Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing McLaren's approach with the new floor in Silverstone isn't an isolated case. It's far from the first time this season that the Woking-based team has brought upgrades to a track without immediately racing them. In Canada, the papaya squad introduced a new front wing as a test item, only racing it later in Austria. Similarly, Norris had already tested the new front wing intended for Spain (to comply with the FIA flexi-wings TD) in Imola, and several more examples follow this pattern. In all these instances, the delay in racing the new parts wasn't due to underperformance, but rather to a carefully thought-out plan. By collecting on-track data, McLaren was able to verify the correlation, checking whether the upgrades delivered what was expected based on wind tunnel and CFD simulations. This cautious rollout has helped McLaren avoid problems that have plagued other teams in recent years, such as correlation issues or unexpected side effects - issues Ferrari encountered after introducing a new floor in Barcelona last year, whereas Christian Horner has spoken many times about the handicap of Red Bull's outdated windtunnel. While McLaren's approach to upgrades is wise, it also highlights the luxury it currently enjoys. If new parts offer a time gain and every tenth matters, why wouldn't a team use it immediately? The fact that McLaren can afford to take a measured approach shows just how comfortable its lead is, both on track and in the championship standings. That margin allows it to avoid unnecessary risks, while Red Bull was forced to roll out upgrades rapidly in hopes of salvaging its season. McLaren MCL39, technical detail In contrast, Red Bull debuted part of its new floor package for Silverstone (the floor edges) a race early in Austria - at least for Max Verstappen's car. The midfield battle is even closer, meaning teams involved in that have no time to lose when it comes to bringing new parts to the car. But with McLaren's strong baseline, preserving that foundation matters more than squeezing out an extra millisecond a weekend early. McLaren has also been clever in adapting to the FIA's technical directives. It let Norris test the new front wing early to confirm that the FIA's clampdown on flexi-wings wouldn't hurt their performance from Barcelona onwards. These are the types of moves that are only possible when a team has a significant buffer - though, it still reflects smart planning from McLaren's technical team, including Rob Marshall. New floor set to return for F1 Belgian GP, rivals bringing upgrading as well The Silverstone floor test fits neatly into this approach, with the full rollout planned for Spa. 'The floor worked well, so we'll be unwrapping that and throwing it on both cars,' said CEO Zak Brown. 'It was always intended to just be a test part this first weekend, but we were happy with what we saw, so there is more to come.' This naturally raises the question – and maybe even concerns among rivals: could the grid's strongest car become even stronger? 'I think it's more of the same,' Brown responded when asked about the Belgian Grand Prix. 'Maybe not a 30-second win this time, but more of the same as far as how close it is. Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren "I think all these races so far have been epic. Even though the numbers are 9 out of 12, every race is pretty stressful. So as long as they're great to watch on TV… I hope we can do another 9 out of 12, but it's an exciting season.' While McLaren's new floor could give it another edge, it's worth noting that rival teams are also planning upgrades for Spa. Ferrari is bringing a new rear suspension following a filming day in Mugello, while Helmut Marko told Autosport that Red Bull will introduce some further upgrades as well. These have been in the pipeline for a while and represent some of the final big pushes of the season, as teams have already shifted focus to the 2026 regulations. All of this makes the Belgian Grand Prix an interesting one, despite the constraints of a sprint weekend. One aspect remains: McLaren's meticulous update strategy drastically reduces the likelihood of upgrades misfiring when they finally hit the track. That's a luxury most other teams simply don't have - and one of the clear advantages of McLaren's current position. Read Also: Why Verstappen is still problematic for McLaren in F1 2025 title fight To read more articles visit our website.
Top Gear
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Opinion: Piastri and Norris are opposites, so who'll win the 2025 drivers' title?
Formula One One fast MCL39 car, two drivers with different personalities, and one drivers' championship. Which McLaren will prevail? Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading McLaren has finally produced a car capable of winning a championship but has a driver pairing in Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris that goes about their craft in very different ways. Question is, who's more likely to take their maiden drivers' title? Oscar Piastri – the cerebral assassin. He races like he's solving a complex puzzle at 200mph. Methodical, calm and precise, he makes very few mistakes. Andrea Stella described him as having 'no noise' in his head, clinical from lights out to chequered flag. Advertisement - Page continues below He neither celebrates victory nor laments defeat. His mum recounts a story where she and Oscar were cycling, and she went over the handlebars. He was wearing a heart rate monitor and when they got home, they looked at the reading – it shot up when he saw the crash. 'So you do have a heart,' she said. 'You just rarely show it!' Oscar has methodically worked through any driving weaknesses. Understanding the nuances of each track, tyre management and a qualifying deficit to Lando had all been chinks in his armour... not anymore. Now he drives with such authority that the other drivers respond differently to him when they go wheel to wheel. He exudes confidence, and his competitors feel it. You might like Then there's Lando – charismatic, mercurial and with star quality. He wears his heart on his sleeve. His pace is undeniable, especially in qualifying and, when he is on form, he can extract magic from the car. His tendency to publicly criticise himself is one of the more intriguing aspects of his personality – and one that sets him apart from his peers (bar perhaps Charles Leclerc), because in an era where drivers are often media trained to within an inch of their lives, Lando is refreshingly open, and at times brutally honest. His self criticism shows a high degree of self awareness and accountability. When Lando underperforms, or makes a strategic misjudgement, he rarely blames the team or circumstances – he owns it. I love this openness – it makes for much more compelling interviews for a start. It's endearing, relatable, and earns him respect from fans around the world. It also shows a strong internal drive to improve. As Sebastian Vettel told us recently on Sky Sports, it is the most natural thing in the world to doubt yourself, and yet it is the most unnatural to talk about it. Advertisement - Page continues below However there is a fine line between self assessment and self flagellation. Overdo it and it could take a toll on his confidence, and undermine that of the team around him. His introspective streak can be powerful fuel for growth, but it also raises questions about how well Lando manages the psychological pressure of competing at the highest level. It makes him relatable but also vulnerable. So we have one very fast car, two drivers ready for the biggest stage and only one driver championship up for grabs. Zak Brown has a role to play here – managing the rivalry and eventually enforcing team orders, because there are a handful of others (including Max eyeing up his fifth consecutive world title) who are gathering vital points while the two McLarens take bites out of each other. Place your bets. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
McLaren boss warns Lando Norris that team-mate Oscar Piastri will be 'even more determined for the races to come' after 'very harsh' penalty at the British Grand Prix
Glory today, trouble tomorrow? Lando Norris won the British Grand Prix to fulfil a childhood dream in front of 168,000 fans at Silverstone on Sunday, but he has been warned that the McLaren team-mate he beat, Oscar Piastri, will be incensed enough by his 'harsh' punishment to fire back in their two-horse race for the world championship. The win moved Norris within eight points of his Australian rival. It's 12 races down with 12 to go, and the pair seem in a class of their own after defending and quadruple champion Max Verstappen finished fifth at the rain-splashed race. Norris triumphed when Piastri was handed a 10-second penalty for 'erratic braking' under the safety car, a punishment Norris capitalised on to take victory, his first at his home grand prix. Piastri, the runner-up, felt he had been unfairly penalised, his comments jeopardising what had been a strangely harmonious arrangement between the pair. And their McLaren boss Andrea Stella, the supreme peace-negotiator, said: 'I have to say that the penalty was very harsh. 'There are a few things to review, but now the penalty has been decided, and has been served. We move on. 'I'm sure Oscar will use this motivation to be even more determined for the races to come and try to win as many races as possible.' Wind is gathering behind Norris three weeks after he crashed into Piastri in Canada, his championship hopes seemingly dashed, with wins in Austria and Britain, his first consecutive victories in a single season. Red Bull's Verstappen is 69 points adrift. Norris cut his nose in celebrations afterwards, elbowed accidentally by a photographer in the melee. He said: 'It's two wins in a row, but they've not come easy by any means.'
