Stella Puts Ferrari, Mercedes at Top After Bahrain Test
McLaren's Andrea Stella points to Ferrari and Mercedes as the teams looking most performance-ready after analyzing Bahrain test data, specifically citing their strong long-run pace. However, he cautions that testing times can be misleading, with the full picture only emerging at the first race.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has identified Ferrari and Mercedes as the teams that appear most 'ready from a performance point of view' following the Bahrain pre-season test, while urging caution about reading too much into testing times. His assessment comes after observing the long-run simulations of Lewis Hamilton for Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes, which he noted were quicker than McLaren's own runs.
Why it matters:
The team principal's early pecking order holds significant weight as it comes from a direct competitor's analysis of on-track data, not just lap time headlines. With McLaren itself showing strong reliability, Stella's focus on Ferrari and Mercedes' race pace suggests a potential shift at the front, challenging the widespread assumption that Red Bull remains the clear benchmark heading into the new era of regulations.
The details:
- Stella highlighted the impressive race simulation performances, specifically noting that runs by Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli were quicker than his own driver Oscar Piastri's comparable stint.
- He confirmed that Charles Leclerc's long run from the previous day was also 'quite competitive' and at a similar level.
- Despite naming Red Bull as part of a group that seems 'very well equipped,' Stella singled out Ferrari and Mercedes for their apparent readiness when pressed on performance.
- The McLaren boss heavily emphasized the positive reliability and mileage achieved by his own team, with Piastri completing a record 161 laps on the final day, calling the test 'extremely positive' from an operational standpoint.
What's next:
Stella's caveat about the deceptive nature of testing remains the crucial footnote. Fuel loads, engine modes, and test programs are all unknown variables. The true competitive order will only begin to crystallize at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March. The final pre-season test in Bahrain from February 18-20 will offer another, but still incomplete, data point before the racing begins.