Andrea Stella has explained how Ferrari’s return to form is both “bad and good news” for McLaren as they attempt to topple Red Bull and return to championship-winning ways this season.
Potent upgrades from McLaren have seen the Woking team apply considerable pressure on Red Bull over the course of the campaign, with the latter’s once-comfortable lead in the constructors’ championship now standing at just eight points.
Indeed, across this year’s European leg, McLaren have scored a whopping 286 points to Red Bull’s 182, while Ferrari (220) and Mercedes (200) have also racked up more than the reigning world champions.
McLaren last won the F1 constructors’ title in 1998, when Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard drove for the team, while Lewis Hamilton remains their most recent drivers’ champion, having secured the championship in 2008.
Leclerc and Ferrari returned to winning ways at Monza
Speaking after the Italian Grand Prix, where Charles Leclerc overcame Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to score his and Ferrari’s first victory since Monaco, Stella offered a philosophical response to questions about McLaren missing an opportunity.
“I want to capitalise more on the competitiveness of the car,” replied the Team Principal. “In terms of the race, I think there may be a misunderstanding that the McLaren was by far the fastest car.
“I think Leclerc was as fast as the McLaren, as fast as Oscar in the first stint. Even in the second stint, he was behind the two McLarens and he could stay with the two McLarens.
“I think Ferrari this weekend were as competitive as us, at least with Leclerc, which for us is bad news. It meant we couldn’t simply cruise in the race, we needed to deal with them, and they did a good job exploiting some of the difference.”
Race Highlights: 2024 Italian Grand Prix
He continued: “At the same time, it is good news as it means we have more cars that can take points away [from] Red Bull, so I think actually this is better news for us.
“We need to make sure we maximise the potential that is available in the car, even if it means Ferrari will set a very serious challenge for victory.”
As well as McLaren cutting Red Bull’s championship lead to single figures, Norris further eroded Max Verstappen’s advantage in the drivers’ standings at Monza – bringing the gap down to 62 points.
Eight races remain in 2024, including three more Sprint weekends (in Austin, Sao Paulo and Qatar), with 232 points still up for grabs on the drivers’ front and 397 in the constructors’ battle.
