McLaren approaches the looming 2026 F1 regulation reset with measured confidence rather than bold predictions. Team principal Andrea Stella reflected on past remarks and explained why the coming era demanded caution, patience and relentless development. Speaking to Sky Sports Italy, he outlined how lessons from recent success shaped McLaren’s mindset, while acknowledging that the scale of change ahead left no room for certainty.
Why Stella’s “boring” title vision was rooted in confidence, not arrogance
Stella previously spoke about the idea of a “boring” F1 championship for McLaren, but his intention was widely misunderstood. He did not frame it as bravado. Instead, it came from an internal belief in the direction McLaren had taken. The team’s development trajectory had impressed him early on, as he saw the potential long before it materialised on track.
That confidence stemmed from the work behind the scenes. McLaren had progressed strongly through the development phase, and Stella believed the foundations were in place to convert that efforts into results with the 2025 car. With two highly competitive drivers in Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, he felt the team could consistently fight at the front. In his view, sustained success could make the title fight feel predictable rather than chaotic.
“So, last year here in this same place when I said I wanted to make the championship boring, it wasn’t arrogance but rather I was seeing the team working very well. I knew in the development stage which was the potential which was going to be converted into the MCL39, the 2025 car. I knew we were in the conditions to be able to win races and that with two such strong drivers like Lando [Norris] and Oscar [Piastri] we could potentially make it boring.”
Stella outlines McLaren’s mindset for F1’s biggest reset
Looking ahead to 2026, Stella struck a very different tone. He stressed that this season could not be approached with the same certainty. The regulation overhaul represented an unprecedented shift, affecting the chassis, power units and tyres all at once. Every component would be new. There would be no reliable reference points.
Despite this, Stella still drew encouragement from McLaren’s internal progress. He praised the technical group for its level of development and the quality of work already achieved. Yet, he remained realistic. Without knowing how rivals were progressing, comparisons were impossible.
McLaren therefore entered the new era with restraint. The early phase of 2026 would be about understanding their true position. Wherever McLaren started, Stella expected an intense development race that would extend beyond a single F1 season. For him, the priority was clear. Focus inward. Maintain the highest possible development rate. Let the results follow through sustained hard work rather than expectations.
“This can’t be said this year because in 2026 everything will be new. It might be the first time in history where there is such a regulation change investing the chassis, the engine and the tyres. Everything will be brand new, there will not be any reference. I am still seeing the great work done by our technical team, and especially the level of development reached, which is very important and encouraging, but we don’t know where the others are.
“So, we are entering this season much more carefully, we will learn where we are and regardless of where we will be at the beginning, it’s going to be a battle of car development throughout 2026 and the years after. It’s time to work hard and focus on ourselves and to keep the highest level of development possible.”
