Despite securing the fewest aerodynamic testing times for 2025 after a historic Constructors’ title victory, McLaren boss Andrea Stella remains confident that efficiency—not time—will be the key to staying ahead of rivals of Formula 1.
F1 aerodynamic testing rules hit champions hard
THE Aerodynamic Test Restrictions (ATR) of Formula 1, introduced in 2022, aim to level the playing field by allocating less time in the wind tunnel and CFD (Digital Fluid Dynamics) to the best performing teams. For McLaren, their first Constructors title in 26 years comes with a penalty: only 70% of the base testing allowance for 2025, against 85 % during the 2024 season.
The team that finished 10th in the ranking will benefit from a 115% allocationcreating a significant gap in testing opportunities. However, McLaren team principal, Andrea Stellaremains imperturbable.
“You would always take P1 in the championship and then see how you can improve your efficiency,” Stella told Autosportemphasizing that quality takes precedence over quantity in terms of aerodynamic development.
The battlefield of 2024: Lessons learned from the narrow margins
The 2024 Formula 1 season has been a relentless chess game of improvements and innovations. Performance among the top teams was closer than ever, with Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes experiencing fluctuating results and correlation problems—a sign that more testing time does not always guarantee better results.
“Just because I have three times more time in the wind tunnel doesn’t necessarily mean I’m developing the car three times faster,” Stella explained. “We saw very clearly this year that the improvements of certain teams did not always translate into progress.”
For McLaren, the focus is on precise development—get the most out of each test session to find real performance gains.
McLaren’s in-house wind tunnel: A game changer
McLaren’s rise to championship glory in 2024 has been propelled by a critical infrastructure upgrade: their internal blower. Previously, the team depended on the Toyota wind tunnel in Colognein Germany—an arrangement that often slowed down their development process due to logistics.
Stella highlighted the massive efficiency gain McLaren now enjoys:
“With Toyota, the part was ready, but testing would take place two days later due to shipping,” Stella said. “Now the part is ready, and it is tested two hours later. You gain so much efficiency. »
Although the logistical advantage is significant, Stella was quick to point out that the team’s success relies on their holistic approach to aerodynamic development.
“Effectiveness on Test Time”: Stella’s Winning Formula
Stella believes McLaren’s secret weapon is their relentless focus on generating knowledge and efficiency in aerodynamic tests, regardless of restrictions.
“Even though you have more restrictions, how you generate knowledge and efficiency is by far the most important thing,” he emphasized.
This philosophy transformed McLaren from a challenger in one title winning powerand Stella is confident that this mindset will keep them ahead of the competition in 2025, even with reduced testing time.
Why McLaren isn’t worried
While rivals may see the reduction in testing time as an obstacle, McLaren sees it as a challenge for refine their approach any further.
Stella’s confidence is built on the team’s proven ability to deliver major upgrades—like those seen at Austin et Singapore—even under time and resource constraints.
For McLaren, it’s not about how much time they spend in the wind tunnel, but how efficiently they use that time.
Can McLaren stay on top in 2025?
As Formula 1 heads into another unpredictable season, McLaren’s strategy is clear: work smarter, not harder. With a title-winning car, an efficient wind tunnel operation, and Stella’s leadership, McLaren has no intention of letting reduced aerodynamic testing time slow their momentum.
For their rivals, this should be a warning: McLaren isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
