Stella: McLaren's Pace Remains Competitive Despite Austin Struggle

Andrea Stella believes McLaren's performance at the United States Grand Prix was far more competitive than the final classification suggests. Despite starting deep in the field, the team saw glimpses of elite pace, though they continue to struggle with extracting that potential consistently during qualifying sessions.

Why it matters:

The disconnect between "theoretical pace" and "actual results" has become a recurring theme for McLaren. After a dominant summer, Lando Norris has now gone four consecutive races without a podium. In the tight competitive landscape of 2026, the inability to convert raw speed into track position is the primary barrier preventing McLaren from challenging the current frontrunners.

The Details:

• Qualifying Deficit: A poor Saturday left Oscar Piastri 7th and Lando Norris 8th, forcing both drivers into recovery drives that compromised their overall race trajectory.
• Strategic Gamble: McLaren opted for a one-stop strategy for Norris, hoping for a Safety Car. While this briefly propelled him to P2, he was ultimately defenseless against the fresher tires of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
• Performance Gap: Stella noted that while they matched the pace of Red Bull and Ferrari over the race distance, Kimi Antonelli appeared to be a step ahead of the entire field.
• Execution Issues: Stella admitted that while the car's potential exists, utilizing it fully—especially in the high-pressure environment of qualifying—remains a significant challenge.

What's next:

McLaren is banking on a targeted development push to restore its podium ambitions before the season concludes.

• Upcoming Upgrades: While minimal changes are expected for Mexico, a significant package of new components is scheduled for the Brazil and Las Vegas Grands Prix.
• Objective: The team aims to stabilize their qualifying performance, allowing their drivers to start at the front and leverage their race pace without relying on high-risk strategic gambles.