P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Andrea Stella has made a startling admission on the pace of McLaren after Bahrain testing ahead of the F1 season opener in Australia.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s Team Principal, acknowledged a decline in the team’s competitive pace following Bahrain testing before the start of the F1 season in Australia. Despite recent successes, McLaren faced challenges adapting to new ground effect regulations. While initial tests showed promise with strong energy management, Stella’s recent comments suggest a slip in performance. Stella expressed uncertainty about McLaren’s position compared to rivals Mercedes and Ferrari, hinting at a closer battle with Red Bull. McLaren plans incremental upgrades but no significant changes for the season opener in Melbourne, focusing on weight reduction for better performance.
