McLaren boss Andrea Stella believes the team’s prowess during Formula 1 testing validates its progress after previous struggles in Bahrain.
McLaren emerged as the favourite after three days of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit last week.
A series of impressive race simulations by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri demonstrated that McLaren will be the team to beat next week at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
This comes 12 months on from McLaren starting the 2024 F1 season as the fourth fastest team in Bahrain, at a track that doesn’t typically serve the Woking-based outfit well.
Speaking to select media including Motorsport Week during testing, Stella revealed how the team’s strength in testing at a previously unfavourable Bahrain circuit showed McLaren has made progress with its MCL39, but added some caveats.
“Bahrain [was] one of the tracks in which we have struggled to perform in previous years,” he said.
“Looking at the track layout, looking at some kind of demand associated with the low grip, for instance, and the [track surface] roughness, big demand on traction, we have a justification as to why our car wasn’t necessarily working very well at this circuit.
“We have worked over the last couple of years to try and improve on those requirements that are needed in circuits of this kind where you have tight corners, for example, and we think we have made some progress.
“We are trying, obviously, at the same time, to retain some of the strengths that we have developed over the years, for instance, in some medium-speed corners.”
Cool F1 Testing temperatures an important factor to consider
Norris’ head-turning race simulation came on Day 2 of the three-day test where temperatures at the Bahrain circuit were considerably cooler than expected.
Stella’s conversation with written media came that very evening and he stressed that the conditions could have flattered McLaren somewhat.
“This year the car seems to have adapted to the Bahrain requirements a bit better than in previous years, but like I say, the conditions are so unique that they may be masking some of the traditional issues that we may be having and certainly are making, for instance, traction requirements, stability much easier because the lap times are incredibly fast,” he explained.
“I think we are seeing the good side of what the operating conditions can be for a Formula 1 car.
“I think once we come here for the race it will be more difficult, more difficult for everyone and certainly more difficult for us.”
Bahrain representative of McLaren improvement
Uncharacteristically cool temperatures aside, Stella didn’t shy away from the fact that the tight corners of Bahrain, traditionally not the strong suit of McLaren’s admittedly capable F1 machines of late, are a good metric for progress.
Whereas high-speed corners in Australia and Suzuka, two circuits F1 will visit in the first months of the 2025 season, will play to McLaren’s inherent strengths, strong pace at Bahrain is an encouraging sign for the team.
“I think in terms of where, as McLaren, we needed to improve, I think this circuit is representative,” Stella said.
“I think if we go to Melbourne, if we go to Suzuka, there’s a larger number of corners that may adapt to some of the strengths of our car.
“But here, there’s not many of them.
“So it’s a circuit that we definitely take as a challenge, but also as a useful, interesting reference to see whether we’ve been able to make progress.
“And even last year at this circuit, we were the fourth best team in 2024.”
READ MORE – How Lando Norris warned F1 rivals about ominous McLaren pace before testing
