McLaren is on the verge of something special: the team could clinch the 2025 Constructors’ Championship this weekend in Baku. Never before has a World Championship been decided so early in the season. Yet, team principal Andrea Stella remains notably grounded. According to him, it’s not over yet – although the difference from last year is clear.
“Last year, the championship came as a surprise,” Stella shares in the team principals’ press conference. “The team’s progress was still in its infancy. It wasn’t until Miami that we claimed our first victory, and it was here in Azerbaijan that we truly took the lead. In the end, it was a wonderful surprise – and a grand celebration.” But 2025 is different, Stella says. “This season, we knew quite early on that the car was very competitive, that we would be capable of winning races. The main challenge was to maintain focus, to extract everything possible.”
When asked what makes the difference in 2025, Stella doesn’t hesitate: “The car itself. It’s simply much better than last year.” The McLaren team principal particularly praises the technical audacity of his team. “We’ve developed almost every part of the car. For instance, in the front suspension, but also in less visible areas. That’s where we’ve really made strides.” Although McLaren could officially become Constructors’ Champions this weekend, Stella doesn’t want to get ahead of himself. “We still have to win it,” he says. “It’s not ours yet. But the feeling within the team is clearly different from last year. Then, we were taken by surprise. Now, we know we can do it.”
