Andrea Stella Reflects on McLaren's Near Miss in Miami

McLaren's performance in Miami was a breath of fresh air for the team, as both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri found themselves on the podium in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix. Team Principal Andrea Stella, however, lamented that a victory slipped through their fingers due to some strategic missteps.

After a lengthy break, McLaren rolled out a significant upgrade package, promising a 'completely new car' as Stella had put it. The changes were evident, as Norris clinched pole position for the Sprint and converted it into his first win of the season. Piastri wasn't far behind, securing a one-two finish for the team.

However, come Saturday's qualifying, Mercedes was back on form with Kimi Antonelli taking pole for the main event. Despite this, the McLaren duo managed P2 and P3 in the Grand Prix, with Norris just shy of another victory. Stella pointed out that the competition had shifted with various teams, including Ferrari and Red Bull, closing the gap to Mercedes.

Stella commented, "Mercedes still have a couple of tenths on us, which was clear in the race. While we have consistency on our tyres, the pure pace of Mercedes proved challenging." He noted that execution and optimisation were critical, and their pit stop strategy ultimately cost them the win. "If we had kept Lando in the lead, he might have taken it to the finish," Stella reflected.

The decision to pit Norris a lap later than Antonelli allowed the Mercedes driver to execute the undercut effectively, maintaining his lead. Stella admitted that with Mercedes' speed advantage, this decision impacted Norris's chance for a win.

Despite the setback, Stella remains optimistic. "We scored more points this weekend than the previous three races combined, and with more upgrades on the way, we're hopeful for further progress," he stated. "While we didn't fully capitalise today, competing with a faster car was a team effort, and there's a lot to be pleased about."

In the end, while McLaren didn't walk away with the winner's trophy, their performance in Miami hinted at a brighter future. With strategic refinement, they might soon turn near misses into outright victories.