Stella sees glass half full: 'Giving track position to Max, F1's more fun'

09:12, 04 May

byNorberto Mujica

On paper and in practice, the McLaren is the strongest F1 car this season. However, extracting its potential is not that easy, notes team boss Andrea Stella, who also pinpoints the thorn in the papaya team's side: Max Verstappen.

Speaking after qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix, Stella outlined the issues that prevented his team from locking out the front row, a result the Italian believed was within reach for McLaren.

"I think the car had definitely the pace to lock in the first row today. But we need to execute, we need to be accurate, but it's not as easy as we think. Well done to Max in putting together what looks like a good lap," said Stella on Sky Sports.

Neither Piastri nor Norris could measure up to Verstappen

"For our drivers, as you say, Oscar was actually not able to improve in Q3 with two attempts. I think he got a little bit off the rhythm in Q3 and this track with the wind and with the long straights is a bit tricky."

"And Lando was flowing very well in fairness until the last corner. One attempt we were a little too long and one attempt we were a little too short," says the Italian assessing his drivers' performances on Saturday afternoon at Miami.

"I think it's still a solid qualifying session. It's a good position for tomorrow, the car is very strong in race trim, so qualifying is not ideal ideal but it's good and that's the starting point for tomorrow. That's where we refocus."

This year, track position is essential, due to how close together the cars are in terms of performance, and how dependant on various factors the pace seems to be. When Stella was reminded that they had just given that precious track position to Verstappen, the Italian couldn't do anything more than joke.

"Ideally we wouldn't, but I think like this we're gonna make Formula 1 slightly more entertaining. So I hope you will appreciate this attempt."

"But jokes apart, you know, like Max, he always does such a good job, so we need to just execute qualifying slightly better," a reminder, surely, to his drivers, to rise up to the Dutchman's level.