McLaren team principal Andrea Stella assessed the performance of the MCL40 in the Bahrain winter tests, highlighted the car’s reliability, and stated that Ferrari and Mercedes are currently the most competitive teams heading into the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
After the two weeks of winter testing in Bahrain concluded, McLaren team director Andrea Stella provided his evaluation of the first phase of technical preparation for the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship, noting that the team completed “virtually all of the planned test items” and that the reliability of the MCL40 was a key factor in gathering relevant data, although he emphasized the need to measure themselves against the competitive reality of their rivals.
Stella said that “overall, it has been a positive testing period” and stressed the importance of having a reliable car that allowed them to log mileage and better understand the potential of the new single-seater under the current regulations. This assessment highlights a technical approach focused on confirming system robustness before pursuing deeper performance optimizations.
In his analysis of the technical pecking order that emerged from the tests, Stella was clear in stating that “Ferrari and Mercedes are the teams to beat,” adding that McLaren and Red Bull appear to be “probably very similar,” but that the first two mentioned have a tangible edge in terms of pace and data gathered during race simulations. That evaluation suggests that Ferrari’s and Mercedes’ cars delivered stronger indicators of competitiveness under different testing conditions.
The McLaren boss also acknowledged that his team managed to “add a bit of performance each day” of testing, explaining that aerodynamic setup optimization, tire tuning, and power unit usage were areas where progress was achieved during the sessions in Sakhir. This technical progression, while positive, was not enough to put the MCL40 at the top of the performance charts.
Beyond identifying the leading teams, Stella offered a measured reading of the results, indicating that while McLaren is not “very far off,” there is still work ahead and that direct comparisons between lap times and race simulations prevent definitive conclusions until the cars compete under qualifying and race conditions.
From a technical standpoint, Stella’s conclusion underscores McLaren’s need to turn the information gathered in Bahrain into specific improvements that allow them to close the gap to Ferrari and Mercedes, particularly in terms of dynamic balance, tire management, and adaptation of the aerodynamic package.
In this competitive context, with the opening round of the 2026 calendar in Melbourne scheduled for early March, the work of McLaren’s engineers and drivers in the coming weeks will be key for the team to translate winter testing progress into tangible performance for the first race of the championship.