McLaren team principal Andreas Stella believes Bahrain is “the most difficult track in the first half of the season” for McLaren – but the team’s small strength could save them
McLaren got off to an almost flawless start in the 2025 season with two wins. In the most recent race in Japan, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were beaten by Red Bull, dampening the initial euphoria. And now, of all times, McLaren is facing one of the most challenging tasks of the season!
“I expect Bahrain to be the most difficult track for McLaren in the first half of the season,” explains team principal Andrea Stella. “I don’t think we saw any signs during testing that we would have had an advantage there, for example on the first lap.”
Nevertheless, there is at least a small glimmer of hope. “The only thing we have seen is that the car saves tires,” explains the Italian, hinting at a possible advantage. “That’s a trait we didn’t take full advantage of at Suzuka, which was a low-wear track, but this is a high-wear track.”
McLaren at a disadvantage in Bahrain?
It is precisely this characteristic that could prove decisive in Bahrain. But to actually capitalize on it, McLaren needs to get the whole package right. “To exploit this strength, though, you have to qualify well and not get stuck in traffic,” Stella reminds us. He is aware that the team has to perform flawlessly in all areas this weekend.
A top result in qualifying is by no means guaranteed. “I’m not sure if McLaren has an advantage at all in this configuration, which is dominated by low speeds.” A pole position seems by no means a sure thing under the current circumstances.
If McLaren cannot match the performance of the opening races in Bahrain, there is even a threat of a change in leadership in the drivers’ championship! Max Verstappen is only one point behind the current championship leader Norris with his Red Bull. Stella firmly rejects the idea that the defeat in Suzuka was a wake-up call.
McLaren “didn’t need a wake-up call”
“We didn’t need a wake-up call. We weren’t sleeping and certainly not dreaming, but we were wide awake,” the McLaren team boss clarifies. ”We knew we would be beaten if we didn’t get the full performance out of the car.”
Even with an ideal race, Stella expects the result to be close. “And if we do exploit that, we might only just win,” he explains. McLaren must therefore concentrate fully and not allow itself to make any mistakes. “That’s what we’re talking about in the team.”
The team boss does not accept the criticism that McLaren was too cautious in Japan and may have given away a victory. “Everything else seems to me to be somewhat externally constructed, but from our point of view it does not reflect the numbers,” said Stella.
