McLaren sees progress in Japan but remains cautious about Ferrari podium challenge

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged his team's clear performance step forward at the Japanese Grand Prix but expressed tempered expectations about challenging Ferrari for a podium spot. While Oscar Piastri qualified an impressive third and Lando Norris fifth, Stella noted Ferrari still holds a race-pace advantage, making a direct fight for the top three a hopeful but surprising outcome for this weekend.

Why it matters:

After a disastrous start to the 2026 season plagued by reliability issues, any sign of genuine performance progress is critical for McLaren's morale and championship trajectory. Closing the gap to a top team like Ferrari validates their development path and provides a tangible benchmark, even if a podium remains just out of immediate reach.

The details:

• Qualifying Breakthrough: Oscar Piastri, who had not started a race in 2026 prior to Suzuka, secured a stunning third place on the grid, with Lando Norris lining up fifth, marking the team's strongest Saturday of the season.
• Stella's Cautious Assessment: Team Principal Andrea Stella credited the improvement to better chassis setup and, more significantly, improved calibration and exploitation of the new-generation Mercedes power unit in partnership with HPP engineers.
• The Ferrari Benchmark: Despite the progress, Stella explicitly stated Ferrari is "still one step ahead," particularly in race trim, and he would be "positively surprised" if McLaren could compete with them for a podium on pure pace at Suzuka.
• The Long Game: Stella emphasized that consistent podium contention requires further car improvements and the introduction of planned upgrades, with the ultimate goal of fighting for victories later in the season.

What's next:

The immediate focus is converting the strong qualifying positions into solid points in the Japanese Grand Prix, capitalizing on any race-day opportunities. The larger plan involves bringing scheduled upgrades to the MCL60 to bridge the remaining gap to the front, turning qualifying promise into regular podium challenges as the 2026 season develops.