Andrea Stella Refutes Lewis Hamilton's Claim About McLaren's Miami Upgrades

Andrea Stella has firmly pushed back against Lewis Hamilton's claim that McLaren's Miami upgrade package delivered more performance than anticipated, stating the results were "pretty much" in line with what the team's data had predicted.

The McLaren team principal responded after Hamilton told reporters he had "heard" McLaren's updates were worth more than expected—a sharp contrast to Ferrari's experience. For Stella, the numbers tell a different story.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's remark hinted at a narrative of McLaren overperforming relative to its own projections, which could shift competitive expectations. Stella's insistence that the gains matched simulations reinforces McLaren's credibility in development and suggests the team is executing its upgrade path precisely as planned—a crucial signal in a tight midfield battle.

The details:

• McLaren brought seven new parts to Miami, second only to Ferrari's 11, centered around a completely new floor designed for increased aerodynamic load and efficiency.
• Supporting revisions included new front and rear corners, sidepod inlets, engine cover, and a rear wing with revised endplate geometry.
• Results: The upgraded MCL40 secured a 1-2 in Saturday's Sprint, then Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished second and third behind Kimi Antonelli in the Grand Prix—booting Ferrari off the podium for the first time in 2025.
• Norris crossed the line over 40 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc before Leclerc's 20-second penalty widened the gap.
• Stella clarified: "Pretty much what we measure in the data is consistent with what we were expecting from the development tools… we are in line with our expectations."
• He added the improvements came predominantly from downforce, with some mechanical grip gains, and did not significantly alter the car's balance characteristics.

What's next:

McLaren currently sits third in the Constructors' Championship with 94 points, 86 behind early-season leaders Mercedes. Stella confirmed more upgrades are planned for upcoming races. If the data correlation holds, the team could continue to close the gap to the front—while dismissing any notion of hidden surprises.

Additional reporting by Thomas Maher