Stella: McLaren's Pace Matches Top Teams Despite US GP Podium Miss

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella believes the MCL40's true performance was realized during the United States Grand Prix, even though Lando Norris ultimately finished fifth. Despite a poor qualifying session that left the team mid-grid, the race pace indicated that McLaren remains a legitimate threat to the frontrunners in the 2026 field.

Why it matters:

The gap between McLaren's qualifying performance and race pace has become a critical bottleneck. While the car shows flashes of podium-contending speed, the inability to consistently translate that potential into results is hindering Lando Norris, who has now gone four consecutive races without a podium finish.

The Details:

• Grid Struggle: Norris and Oscar Piastri started 8th and 7th, respectively, failing to maximize the car's potential during Saturday's qualifying session.
• Strategic Gamble: Norris climbed to second place by opting for a one-stop strategy, but was eventually overtaken by Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton, all of whom utilized a faster two-stop approach.
• Performance Benchmark: Stella noted that while the MCL40 was competitive with Red Bull and Ferrari, Kimi Antonelli operated on a different level entirely during the weekend.
• Outcome: Norris settled for fifth, while Piastri finished seventh after a defensive battle with George Russell.

The Big Picture:

Since a strong summer run, McLaren has struggled to maintain its momentum. The team is currently grappling with a car that is difficult to push to its absolute limit, particularly in the high-pressure environment of qualifying. This inconsistency has allowed rivals to pull away in the championship standings as the season heads toward its conclusion.

What's next:

McLaren is betting on a late-season technical push to reclaim its competitive edge.

• Limited updates are expected for Mexico, but a significant upgrade package is slated for the Brazil and Las Vegas Grands Prix.
• The team aims to move beyond occasional competitiveness and return to a level where victory is a consistent possibility for the remainder of the season.