McLaren’s good form does not reduce Andrea Stella’s caution ahead of the Italian GP, which takes place this weekend. For the British team’s boss, the performance shown by the MCL40 in recent stages, with two consecutive wins by Lando Norris, may not be repeated in Monza, where the circuit’s demands are completely different.
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Stella recalls that Hungaroring and Zandvoort favored characteristics in which McLaren stands out, such as high downforce, cornering performance, and stability. Monza requires a lower drag setup, with cars at maximum acceleration for about 80% of the lap and heavy braking in the chicanes.
“The real approach we have is just one race at a time,” said the McLaren team boss to the press. “There is not much more we can influence beyond maximizing what is available ahead, and the next race will be Monza. And if we think about the demands of Zandvoort and Hungary, and then think about the demands of Monza, we are in a completely different regime.
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“So, if we can confirm our improvements in Monza, then I would say the answer to your question is: ‘Yes, we can look with some optimism at the rest of the season,’” Stella concluded.
McLaren arrives at the Italian GP in third place in the constructors’ championship. In the drivers’ standings, Norris is fourth with 159 points, while Oscar Piastri is seventh with 104.
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