Andrea Stella Celebrates Rivals’ Investigations into the MCL39
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella welcomes the investigations by their rivals into the MCL39, the championship-leading single-seater. Stella is confident that these searches for illegal elements will prove fruitless, as his team has demonstrated superior performance in the current season.
McLaren has dominated the season, winning five of the six races held so far. They have particularly excelled on circuits where tire degradation is a crucial factor for performance.
Despite the absence of formal protests from rival teams, suspicions have arisen regarding McLaren’s use of techniques outside the regulations. These alleged practices would seek to control tire temperature and gain a competitive advantage.
One of the most widespread theories, dating back to last season, suggests the possible use of water to cool the brake assembly and tires. This practice would be prohibited by Article 11.5 of the technical regulations. However, a post-race check at the Miami Grand Prix carried out by the FIA on Oscar Piastri’s McLaren, the race winner, determined that the car complied with the regulations.
For us, it’s good news when our rivals focus their attention, instead of on themselves, on some of the aspects that are supposedly present in our car, and that are not even present in reality.
Andrea Stella
Stella affirmed that these accusations, including the belief of some rivals that McLaren will be more affected by the front wing stiffness tests in the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix, benefit his team’s title pursuit.
Stella added that the rivals’ focus on the wrong aspects is “good news” for McLaren, as it allows them to concentrate on their own strengths. He stated that the key to McLaren’s performance lies in a combination of factors that optimize the overall performance of the car.
I would like to give the wrong answer here to mislead our rivals. The only thing I can say is that, over the years in Formula 1, I have learned that you have to focus on yourself and the fundamentals.
Andrea Stella
Stella concluded that focusing on what others do is a warning sign indicating the need to go back to basics.
