Andrea Stella wants McLaren F1 to aim for both titles next year, given the team's progress this year. But the director of the weekend structure also recognizes that his rivals will also come and fight.
“We are in first position in the Constructors' Championship and we are looking for a victory, and second in the Drivers' Championship and we are on an upward trajectory. It is fair to say that we want to approach the 2025 season in trying to win both” admits Stella.
“Three months ago, I would have said that we were on a very strong trajectory compared to our competitors. But, and this is something that we have repeated internally at McLaren, let's look at what Ferrari has been able to TO DO.”
“They responded to some hesitations in the middle of the season and delivered a great amount of performance. And now they have, to our knowledge, I think, the fastest car in the last few races of the season.”
“Let's look at how well Red Bull was able to continue to deliver performance, even when the car wasn't necessarily the fastest. And let's look at what Mercedes was able to do in Vegas and occasionally deliver performance, a incredible reliability and operations, etc.”
“The trajectory we have followed is therefore not sufficient if we really want to be a competitor in 2025 in both championships. This is the time to not be satisfied with our trajectory. This is the time to say that the level, the bar, must be raised.”
Asked which world title he would prefer to win between that of the drivers and that of the constructors, Stella gives his priorities: “It's difficult because it's like asking which kid is your favorite. I think people tend to remember the drivers' championship more than the constructors' championship.”
“I think in itself the Drivers' Championship is the pinnacle you want to reach. But I think, and I've already committed to making a preference, which I said I wouldn't do, that it has to be considered, however, within the framework of a calendar and a chronology.”
“And if I think about McLaren's trajectory, with where we are right now, the constructors' championship is an incredible quest, because obviously it's something we can fight for, but there's still a long way to go. browse It's fantastic to be on this quest.
“Interestingly, when I spoke several times with the drivers during the season, Lando himself felt that for our current position, with our trajectory, the Constructors' Championship is more important now, as if that was the foundation that you want to confirm and build on, if that makes sense.”
“I've always found the feedback from the drivers interesting. They feel like we're building something together. So let's set this milestone, and once things are in place, we can aim for the world championship title pilots.”
Stella admits that McLaren has not always been up to the task of helping Lando Norris fight for the title: “But I think with the drivers we have to say that recently we have had [Lewis] Hamilton et al [Max] Verstappen, the bar is incredibly high, and that requires the team to support the driver.”
“Because Lando was not able to stay in the quest until the last race, because we as a team did not provide him with a fast enough car at the start of the season. After that “We've developed Miami's improvement, he's pretty much tied with Verstappen in terms of points.”
“Team culture is a fundamental part of being able to maximize what you have available, but also letting talent flourish and allowing opportunity, and missed opportunities in particular, to be explored – d 'learn and grow.'
