McLaren's Stella says Mercedes still the team to beat despite Miami rise

McLaren's strong Miami weekend saw Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secure a Sprint 1-2 and second/third in the Grand Prix, fueled by a seven-change upgrade package. Yet team principal Andrea Stella remains measured: he insists Mercedes is still the faster car, citing quantitative indicators from qualifying and race stints.

Why it matters:

Stella's candid assessment cuts through the excitement and reveals the true competitive hierarchy. Mercedes dominated the first three rounds and, according to Stella, still holds a raw pace advantage, especially in high-speed corners. McLaren's upgrade has closed the gap but not eliminated it, making their perfect execution in Miami a necessary compensation. If Mercedes cleans up its own minor issues, the championship picture could shift decisively.

The details:

• Stella listed several "quantitative indicators": In qualifying, Mercedes had no deployment problems (unlike Sprint qualifying) and consistently posted higher corner speeds.
• High-speed corners are where Mercedes gains most significantly, a key strength for the W16.
• Race pace: At the end of both the first and last stints, Mercedes' Antonelli closed the gap and then opened it, demonstrating superior long-run speed.
• "When we were slower, our execution was perfect," Stella said. "Their execution was a few tenths of their potential." This suggests McLaren maximized its package while Mercedes underperformed relative to its theoretical pace.

What's next:

McLaren's strong execution is a valuable weapon, but raw pace ultimately wins championships. Mercedes will likely refine its operating window and reliability, potentially extending its lead. The next few races will be telling: can McLaren's upgrades continue to yield performance gains, or will the Silver Arrows reassert their dominance?