Andrea Stella reckons McLaren will face extra of a take a look at from their rivals throughout the ultimate 10 rounds of the 2025 System 1 marketing campaign, and Ferrari specifically, following his workforce’s imperious run within the opening half of the 12 months.
McLaren have been the category of the sector thus far this season, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris racking up 11 Grand Prix wins between them – the opposite victories going to Purple Bull’s Max Verstappen (two) and Mercedes racer George Russell (one).
Nonetheless, McLaren boss Stella is anticipating a stiffer problem after the summer time break, with Ferrari’s recent upgrades showing to repay and Mercedes discovering some kind after scrapping a problematic rear suspension development.
In an uncommon finish to Qualifying in Hungary final day out, underneath darkish clouds and with temperatures dropping, Charles Leclerc scored his and Ferrari’s first Grand Prix pole place of 2025 – and he went on to guide the primary stint of the race before car problems took over.
“I’m not stunned, as a result of Ferrari have been aggressive over the previous couple of races,” Stella mentioned of Leclerc and Ferrari’s tempo on the Hungaroring. “They had been aggressive within the dry in Silverstone, they had been aggressive in Belgium. By some means, this wasn’t expressed absolutely.
“I believe we noticed [in Qualifying] that they had been in situation to attain the pole place, and [in the race], it’s not like within the first stint we had been holding again. We had been attempting to go as quick as potential, and Leclerc was managing the lead of the race with some extent of management.”
He continued: “I believe Ferrari [are] going to be a contender for victories for the rest of the season. Positively, anytime we [are] racing for the second a part of the season, we must keep in mind that in Qualifying and within the race, we must cope with Ferrari.
“We’d [also] must cope with Mercedes, and [at the Hungarian Grand Prix] Max was a bit out of competition, however Max, I’m certain, will discover a strategy to combat for victories.
“So, there’s nothing apparent on this enterprise. That is precisely what we mentioned in our briefing after Qualifying [in Hungary], and that is what we’ll hold repeating [to] ourselves within the second a part of the season.”
Nonetheless, McLaren are very a lot accountable for the Teams’ Championship after 14 of 24 scheduled rounds – the Woking-based squad boasting greater than double the factors of second-placed Ferrari.
In the Drivers’ battle, simply 9 factors separate McLaren pair Piastri and Norris on the prime of the standings, with third-placed Verstappen now nearly 100 factors off the championship lead.
