Stella reveals the ‘no magic bullet’ theory that makes for a record setting McLaren
Through the first 14 rounds of the 2025 campaign, the McLaren team have largely been the team to beat on every circuit, with the MCL39 excelling at nearly very race track. Team principal Andrea Stella has hinted at the reason behind his team’s competitiveness in the 2025 season so far.
The Italian motorsport chief detailed how the successes currently being enjoyed by his team are largely down to a well-established development process built on what he dubs the ‘fundamentals’ of Formula 1 car machinery.
Sharing his thoughts with the media, including GPblog, during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, the 54-year-old stated:
“This trend that we have been able to establish, whereby developments—being them from a mechanical point of view, but above all aerodynamic—have been successful, is the result of many factors.
"There's not much in Formula 1 fundamentals for success that is a magic bullet. It's really the result of working on the fundamentals”.
“The fundamentals don't only involve the capacity to generate ideas, to create the next geometry for a floor or a front wing.
"They also involve understanding the methodologies you use for this development and understanding when these methodologies will be not only effective in being innovative but also in giving you the confidence that what you have achieved in development in the wind tunnel or CFD will actually transfer into something that works trackside.”
Andrea Stella praises the quality of the McLaren team staff
The Italian engineer also took time to hail the calibre of individuals who work at the Woking-based outfit to ensure the team achieves these remarkable results.
”We have invested a lot from this point of view. I have to praise the quality of the people because even if we talk about methodologies, they are always led by people.
"I have been very lucky that I could lean on very competent leaders and a very talented team.’
The successes of these ‘fundamentals’, which Stella has consistently referred to, have proven evident on track, as the McLaren team have claimed victories in 11 of the 14 races held so far this season. The Papaya-coloured team have also recorded podium finishes in 13 of these races, with the only exception being the Canadian Grand Prix.
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