Stella: April & Hungary Key to McLaren Revival, PU Saga Continues

Andrea Stella has opened up during the summer break. The McLaren boss admitted that the first half of the 2026 season has been the biggest test for the defending champions. Yet, amid the difficulties, he found the most valuable asset: collective strength.

“The most important lesson from these seven months of hard work is that unity is strength in times of great difficulty,” Stella said, as reported by Formu1a.uno. “We proved to ourselves how crucial team cohesion is to recover and get back on track.”

New Regulations Reset and the Price of 2025 Title

Stella acknowledged that the 2026 regulation changes are the most significant in F1 history. “This is not just a reset, it's a true new beginning,” he said. “We realized how high the price we paid for our maximum effort in 2025 to win the double title.”

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Despite the struggles, McLaren did not take the easy way out. “We could have crumbled, looked for excuses, but we didn't. We focused on finding technical and strategic solutions. That's what makes me proud,” the Italian asserted.

Key Moments: April and Hungary

Interestingly, Stella did not point to a single turning point. “There was no single event that changed the course, but rather the awareness of the scale of the challenge,” he explained. However, he credited the forced break in April for allowing a full analysis of the MCL40. “We could understand the need to redirect or strengthen development in certain areas.”

Then, of course, the victory at the Hungaroring with Lando Norris. “Budapest was the highlight of the first half, not just for the result, but because the new aero package there was the fruit of that change in direction,” Stella said.

Mercedes Power Unit: Season-Long Puzzle

Stella also highlighted the collaboration with Mercedes HPP to understand the new power unit. “It's been a long process, with ups and downs, but it's starting to pay off. That said, I expect power unit optimization to remain a complex issue throughout the 2026 season,” he said.

On the comeback chances, Stella refused to give up. “There are still 12 races and 546 points available. The gap in both championships is significant, but we remember last year's lesson well. I always tell the team, if we've set up a new trophy cabinet at the McLaren Technology Centre, then we have a duty to do our best to keep filling it.”