McLaren team boss Andrea Stella says that it is “good news” for his currently outstanding Formula 1 team that the competition focuses on the false reasons for the dominance of the Papaya team.
McLaren has been at the top of Formula 1 for a year after an extensive upgrade package at the Grand Prix of Miami 2024 made the team from a midfielder a candidate.
The Papaya team grabbed the first constructor title in 26 years last season and also lost none of their shine in 2025 – five victories from six races ensure a comfortable lead in the design classification.
McLaren’s enormous leap in performance has both surprised and alerted rival teams. Among other things, the team was suspected of having chilled its tires with water in the previous year, using the aeroelastic effect of its wings better than using everyone else or having found a kind of miracle cure against the excessive wear of the rear tires.
However, the McLaren cars were consistently released by the FIA technicians, even if the World Association has decided to control the bend more – the next tightening for the front wings comes into force during the race in Spain.
Stella hopes for “more of these stories”
After McLaren outclassed the competition in Miami, the opponents hope that the stricter flexibility tests in Barcelona sort the balance of power. However, team boss Stella rejects that McLaren’s success is due to the front wing.
“For us it is good news if our rivals – instead of concentrating on themselves – focus on alleged aspects in our car that actually do not exist,” says Stella on Friday in Imola.
“And even if they exist – let’s say a front wing deflection as with everyone else – then it has nothing to do with the reason why McLaren is currently so competitive.”
“So I hope that there will be even more of these stories in the future. Because that means that our rivals continue to concentrate on the wrong things – and that is only positive for us. That only helps us on our way,” said the Italian.
Verstappen: Red Bull should concentrate on himself
For fairness, it must be said that Max Verstappen also called Red Bull to focus on your own problems instead of constantly looking left and right.
“It is a waste of time to think about such things,” said the four -time world champion. “It is more important for us to concentrate on our own car. We have a lot of work in front of us and have to understand what we have to improve. I think that’s more important.”
McLarens has increasingly voted McLaren’s lead in terms of pessimistic when it comes to the title ambitions. Advisor Helmut Marko also sees no turn in Barcelona for the better.
“The championship is becoming increasingly difficult or unrealistic,” says Marko at Sky. “I don’t think a lot will change in Monte Carlo. Maybe in Barcelona when the stricter wing specifications grip – that could make a difference. But it gets hard. McLaren is simply strong on every route and with every tire.”