McLaren Boss: Ferrari Has F1's 'Best Chassis' After Hamilton's Barcelona Win

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes Ferrari has emerged as Formula 1's "best chassis" after Lewis Hamilton finally claimed his first victory for the Scuderia at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. The win marked a dramatic turnaround for Ferrari, which had struggled to match Mercedes' early-season dominance before introducing a major upgrade package in Spain.

Why it matters:

• Ferrari's sudden surge in cornering performance could reignite a championship fight that had looked firmly in Mercedes' control.
• Stella's public acknowledgment of Ferrari's chassis advantage signals a significant shift in the competitive order heading into the summer.

The details:

• Hamilton's triumph was his first since joining Ferrari at the start of 2025, validating the team's aggressive development push.
• Stella told media that Ferrari is now "the car with the best chassis," particularly in the middle sector's medium-speed corners where it set the benchmark.
• McLaren showed flashes of pace in high-speed corners but lacked grip in medium and low-speed sections, leaving it unable to challenge Ferrari on merit.
• The Woking squad's podium only materialized after Kimi Antonelli's late retirement, with Stella admitting the team needs more aerodynamic load and better tyre management.
• "We need to add aerodynamic performance, we need to add solutions for a better tyre exploitation," Stella said, outlining a clear development path.

What's next:

Ferrari will aim to capitalize on its newfound chassis strength across upcoming circuits, while McLaren faces pressure to find aerodynamic grip and improve tyre degradation before the development window narrows.