McLaren's 'immature' MCL40 a legacy of 2025 title push, Stella explains

Andrea Stella believes McLaren's MCL40 is still an "immature project," with the hangover from its 2025 title push a key factor. The defending champions have spent much of the season behind Mercedes and Ferrari, struggling with the chassis and extracting performance from the new power units.

Why it matters:

McLaren's development was shaped by its 2025 double title charge, while rivals turned to 2026 earlier. That trade-off left the MCL40 with a narrow operating window and unpredictable handling, making life tough for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

The details:

• Stella says the car prefers high-speed corners but becomes inconsistent with braking and kerbs in low-speed sections.
• At Zandvoort, the MCL40 was a "midfield car" in Turns 11/12 despite having the best car overall. Similar issues appeared in Hungary and Madrid.
• An upgrade in Hungary helped Norris to back-to-back wins in Hungary and the Netherlands, plus a surprise pole in Spain.
• McLaren sits third in the standings, 52 points behind Mercedes and 76 clear of Red Bull.

Stella praised the team's response after a difficult FP1 in Spain, with set-up work unlocking the car's potential for a "unique" pole. The recent momentum suggests the immature MCL40 is starting to grow up.

What's next:

McLaren will continue developing the car, aiming to close the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari. With the weaknesses in low-speed corners still unresolved, consistency remains the key target.