Let’s be honest, the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season hasn’t been the victory lap McLaren envisioned. Standing as the defending Constructors’ Champions with Lando Norris defending his Drivers’ title, the Woking squad stumbled out of the gate. The start of the campaign was not fun, and the disaster at the Chinese GP with both Norris and Oscar Piastri failing to start added salt to the wound.
Pushing a lot of the fans and media to question their title defense as Mercedes and their rookie ace, Kimi Antonelli, dominated the early races. But following a massive resurgence at the Miami Grand Prix, McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has officially put the paddock on notice: the defending champions are still very much in the fight.
Miami served as the proving ground for the first major upgrade package to the MCL40, and the results were immediate. Norris commanded the sprint race, securing a victory before joining Piastri for a double podium on Sunday, finishing P2 and P3 behind Antonelli. While Stella remains practical about their current position, his post-race comments make McLaren’s 2026 intentions crystal clear.
Andrea Stella’s championship defense pitch
You see, Stella isn’t interested in moral victories. Despite sitting third in the standings, he made it clear that the goal hasn’t shifted despite the early-season drama. “We have just delivered our first upgrade, we are in Miami, and McLaren looks like they traditionally have done very well in Miami, so it could be that the way we develop our cars kind of suits this circuit, so we will have to see more,” Stella pointed out.
At the same time, the McLaren Principal also did not shy away from the fact that this development war is just starting up. “But at the same time, because it’s only the fourth race and we have scored a good chunk of points even compared to Mercedes, we know that we can further develop our car,” he stated. “We have said already before Miami that the championship is not a sign-off, so our logic is to look at the long term, try and defend the championship… definitely we want to defend the championship.”
But somehow that ain’t all Stella is betting on. See, while Mercedes might have their lead with their rookie bet, for Stella, a good stable partnership can get McLaren to the top. Beyond the aero kits and floor upgrades, the ultimate trump card in the Constructors’ battle comes in the form of the stability between Norris and Oscar Piastri.
“I think when we look in particular at the Constructors’ Championship, I think we are, from a driver’s point of view, probably the strongest pair,” Stella declared. With McLaren currently sitting third in the Teams’ Championship with 94 points, the gap to the front is significant but not impossible.
In due time, McLaren won’t be playing catch-up anymore. It will be coming straight for the Silver Arrows’ throat.
