McLaren's Stella Admits Ferrari, Mercedes a Step Ahead After Bahrain Testing
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella conceded that Ferrari and Mercedes look to have a performance edge after pre-season testing in Bahrain, placing the reigning champions in an early chasing role. He confirmed no major car upgrades are planned for the season opener in Melbourne, emphasizing weight reduction as a key focus.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has delivered a sobering assessment after pre-season testing in Bahrain, suggesting that rivals Ferrari and Mercedes appear to be "a step ahead" in performance. Despite entering 2026 as the reigning double world champions, McLaren's long-run data indicates they are in a chasing position alongside Red Bull, rather than setting the pace.
Why it matters:
This admission from the championship-winning team signals a potential early shift in the competitive order for the new season. If accurate, it places immense pressure on McLaren to develop its car rapidly to defend its titles, while boosting the hopes of Ferrari and Mercedes in their quest to dethrone the established leaders from the very first race.
The details:
- Stella emphasized that genuine performance is best judged by race simulation data, not single-lap "glory runs."
- He noted that while Oscar Piastri's race sim was similar in pace to one by Max Verstappen, the overall picture was less encouraging.
- The team principal pointed out the complicating factor of changing track conditions, which can make late-session runs deceptively fast.
- His clear pecking order assessment: "I think McLaren and Red Bull are probably very similar. Ferrari and Mercedes are a step ahead."
- Stella confirmed there is no major upgrade or "B-spec" car waiting for the season opener in Melbourne, dashing hopes of an immediate performance leap.
- The focus before Australia is on manufacturing a few new parts and, critically, continuing to reduce the car's weight to gain strategic ballast flexibility.
What's next:
McLaren will head to the Australian Grand Prix with essentially the same car seen in Bahrain, relying on its incremental development plan. The first race will provide the true, high-stakes verification of Stella's testing analysis. If the gap is real, McLaren's title defense will become a season-long development battle, beginning with the urgent need to close the deficit to Ferrari and Mercedes.