Photo: Race Pictures

Stella flags potential performance game-changer in new F1 regulations

13:30, 06 Feb

bySamson Ero

Andrea Stella has singled out key areas that could prove to be the difference in performance under the new F1 regulations.

“The new power unit and all the options available to the driver.”

- Andrea Stella

The McLaren team principal, speaking via the team’s official website, noted why the new regulations remain in their preliminary phase, the new power unit dynamics, and other driver-adjustable options could be potential performance differentiators.

“Although these are very preliminary indications, I believe that one of the areas where there is great room for improvement is in exploiting the new power unit and all the options available to the driver. There is also a lot of potential to be extracted in terms of managing the variable aerodynamic configuration, referring to the alternation between Corner and Straight Mode,” Stella explained.

McLaren Team Principal, Andrea Stella - Photo: Race Pictures

Stella continued by emphasising that this generation of F1 cars is still in the early stages of development.

“That said, it is obvious that this generation of single-seaters is at a very early stage of development: four years ago, when ground effect cars made their debut, we were in different circumstances because the power unit and tyres were essentially unchanged from the previous year.”

Stella’s words echo those of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who has expressed excitement about the new power unit dynamics and the crucial role of driver input in determining performance this season.

Norris backs new F1 cars to set new records

Earlier, McLaren driver Lando Norris stressed that he expects the new generation of F1 cars to hit record speeds this season.

The world champion highlighted how powerful the cars feel before stating his belief that they could reach speeds of up to 380 kph. For context, the highest top speed reached by an F1 car so far remains 378 kph, achieved by Valtteri Bottas at the 2016 European Grand Prix.