Stella Cautious on McLaren 'Turning Point' in F1 2025

Andrea Stella is reluctant to rush into calling Lando Norris's win in Hungary a turning point for McLaren's revival in Formula 1 2025. Even though the Budapest result felt like the perfect tonic before the summer break, the Italian boss prefers to stay grounded.

The season has been bitter for the team that arrived as double defending champions. McLaren has often lagged behind its rivals, with Mercedes power unit issues and improved performance from competitors keeping them far from the podium.

However, the upgrade package brought to Hungary brought a significant change to the MCL40. Norris was dominant, signaling that the development direction is right. But Stella emphasized this is only the first part of a series of updates.

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"The upgrades we brought in Hungary are part of a round distributed over a few races. So, this was the first part. There will be more things coming for the next races," he said.

Interestingly, Stella reminded that other top teams have also been successful with their upgrades this season. According to him, the relatively new regulations mean development opportunities are still open for everyone.

"I don't think McLaren has any particular advantage. Everyone is now doing a good job in bringing successful upgrades. What matters is how many upgrades the top teams can deliver for the rest of the season," he added.

With only half the season gone, Stella believes it's too early to conclude this is a turning point. "We just look at the facts. The fact is the upgrades delivered as intended, but pole in Hungary was a bit of an overachievement thanks to execution," he said.

The chance to send a signal to rivals comes this weekend at Zandvoort, where Oscar Piastri won last year. If McLaren can be competitive on a circuit that suits its car, maybe we can start believing in their resurgence.