Stella reveals F1's 'curse' as McLaren title defense stalls

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says Formula 1's "curse" is the relentless need to look forward, even as his team's 2026 title defense stalls. After capturing both world championships in 2025, the Woking squad is winless through nine rounds and sits 154 points adrift of Mercedes.

Why it matters:

McLaren's collapse from the summit shows how ruthlessly the 2026 power unit regulations have reset the competitive order. Stella's comments highlight the mental strain of defending titles in a sport that demands answers immediately and offers no room to celebrate. With the gap to the leaders widening by the race, the papaya outfit is under immense pressure to reverse course before its season slips away.

The details:

• McLaren climbed from near the back of the grid in early 2023 to dual world champion by the end of 2025, completing one of the most rapid turnarounds in modern F1 history.
• The shift to 2026's new power unit rules has exposed weaknesses, leaving the team adrift of Mercedes and often trailing Ferrari through the opening nine rounds.
• The 154-point deficit to the Silver Arrows marks a dramatic reversal for a squad that dominated the previous two campaigns.
• Speaking to the Goodwood broadcast, Stella recalled the journey from "almost last" to champions but stressed that the sport never allows teams to dwell on past success.
• He confirmed that every resource is now focused on future upgrades in hopes of returning Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to the front.

What's next:

McLaren must close the development gap quickly to avoid a lost season and preserve its championship pedigree. Stella remains hopeful the team can recover and put its drivers back in the fight, though erasing a 154-point deficit to Mercedes will require a genuine technical breakthrough in the races ahead.