McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has warned his team not to get complacent in their fight for the championship.
McLaren is experiencing a strong performance period and is on track to win the Constructors’ Championship for the first time since the 1998 season. Andrea Stella has urged his team to continue developing the car as they aim to stay at the top of the standings.
Lando Norris is also chasing Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship, hoping to close the 52-point gap as they head into the final race of the season.
McLaren has shown significant improvement over the past 18 months, but despite being in a position to win the championship, Stella cautioned his team not to lose focus.
Speaking on the Box Box Box podcast, Stella said, “This does not change our attitude. We are grounded people. We will continue to keep our feet on the ground and push to add more speed to the car because we want to stay in this privileged position. But if we don’t develop, others will pass us.”
McLaren started the 2023 Formula 1 season at the back of the grid but has made great progress since then, moving up to the front. If they win the championship this year, it will be their first Constructors’ Championship in 26 seasons.
Stella added, “This is definitely a special moment. The right word is ‘special.’”
“12 months ago, I would never have imagined talking about championships. But this is simply the result of a very strong team’s hard work.”
“The entire McLaren team has worked incredibly hard and to a high standard, which has added speed to the car, allowing us to reach podiums and victories.”
“This has put the team in a position to think about championships throughout the season, which is something very special. It’s a great feeling.”
