Ferrari and Mercedes ‘a step ahead’ of McLaren, says Andrea Stella

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes Ferrari and Mercedes hold a distinct advantage over his side heading into the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The Woking-based outfit concluded their final pre-season preparations last week ahead of the start of the 2026 campaign.

While the British team successfully completed their testing programme, Stella suggests they are currently trailing their main rivals.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets on the final day, finishing over eight-tenths of a second clear of Lando Norris.

‘A step ahead’

Analyzing the data from Bahrain, the McLaren boss remains cautious about the true hierarchy of the grid.

He pointed to specific race simulations as the key indicator of genuine performance relative to the competition.

“I think McLaren and Red Bull are probably very similar,” Stella said.

“Ferrari and Mercedes are a step ahead.”

Comparing his drivers against the reigning world champions, Stella noted a parity in pace during long runs.

“There is a race simulation that I think was on Thursday between Oscar [Piastri] and [Max] Verstappen,” he explained.

“It happened at a similar time of the day, and it was a similar pace.”

Adapting to 2026 regulations

The upcoming season introduces significant changes to power unit regulations, placing a greater emphasis on electrical energy deployment.

Red Bull appeared particularly strong in this area during testing, showing superior efficiency in energy harvesting.

However, Stella warns that the unique characteristics of Melbourne’s Albert Park could shake up the competitive order seen in the Middle East.

Bahrain features heavy braking zones that aid energy recovery, whereas Australia poses a different challenge for the new power units.

“I think in 2026 we will have to look at the characteristics of the circuits,” Stella added.

“Including this feature related to how easy it is as a circuit for the power unit requirement.”