McLaren team principal Andrea Stella views the team’s recent frustrations over narrowly missing victories as a positive sign, indicating significant progress over the past year.
Last season, McLaren transitioned from a lower midfield team to a front-runner after introducing major upgrades at the Austrian Grand Prix. This progress has allowed them to regularly compete for race wins against Red Bull this season.
Stella highlighted that these near-misses reflect McLaren’s advancement, as the team now expects to win races—something unimaginable just 12 months ago. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and building on the team’s achievements rather than being disheartened by close calls.
In recent races, strategic errors and unfortunate incidents have cost McLaren potential victories. For instance, Lando Norris’ late contact with Max Verstappen in Austria and a slow pit stop at Silverstone allowed Lewis Hamilton to take the lead. Similarly, Oscar Piastri’s delayed pit stop at Silverstone resulted in him dropping down the field.
Despite these setbacks, Stella sees the team’s frustration as a sign of their growth and competitive edge. He stressed the importance of learning from these experiences to build resilience and capability, especially when racing against well-established teams like Red Bull and Mercedes.
Stella also pointed out the need for the team, including the drivers, to take collective responsibility for missed opportunities and use them as building blocks for future success. He acknowledged that McLaren is still in a developmental phase but expressed confidence that their efforts will soon pay off, leading to more consistent victories.
By focusing on the positives and learning from their near-misses, McLaren aims to continue their upward trajectory and establish themselves as a formidable force in Formula 1.