Andrea Stella: Mercedes 'definitely raised the bar' for McLaren
McLaren's Andrea Stella concedes Mercedes set a high standard in Barcelona testing, with Ferrari and Red Bull also showing well. He suggests the competitive early form of three different engine manufacturers could signal a close fight at the front in 2026.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged that Mercedes set a formidable benchmark during the recent Barcelona shakedown tests, while also noting strong early showings from Ferrari and Red Bull. The competitive opening from teams using three different power units suggests a potentially tight battle at the front as the 2026 season approaches.
Why it matters:
The first collective running of the new-generation cars provides an initial, albeit fuzzy, snapshot of the competitive order. Mercedes' apparent strength and mileage advantage, if genuine, signals a significant step forward for a team seeking to return to the front. Furthermore, the fact that Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull—each with a different power unit—all looked competitive is an early positive sign for engine parity, which could lead to a more open championship fight.
The details:
- Mercedes accumulated roughly 500 laps across its three test days with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, leading the overall mileage count and frequently appearing near the top of the timing sheets.
- McLaren completed 291 laps during its allocated running time in Barcelona.
- Stella emphasized the difficulty of drawing firm conclusions due to unknown variables like fuel loads, engine modes, and run programs, compounded by unrepresentatively cold track conditions.
- Despite the unknowns, he identified three teams that have "all got off to a good start": Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull.
- Stella stated, "the Brackley team has definitely raised the bar, and we will have to work hard to do the same," directly crediting Mercedes' performance.
- He viewed the competitiveness of three different power units as a "first indication" that extreme performance gaps between them may not exist, at least among the leading suppliers.
What's next:
The true test begins with official pre-season testing in Bahrain. McLaren has a filming day scheduled prior, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris set to share driving duties across the three-day Bahrain test. Stella cautioned that the competitive order seen early in the season will likely shift, as development race in this new regulatory era will be "very significant." The ability of teams and drivers to extract performance and develop their cars effectively will be the ultimate differentiator.