P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren enter the upcoming F1 season as the reigning champions but has noted its car needs some improvement ahead of the campaign.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella emphasized the importance of improving a key area before the season begins. The team seeks to defend its double championship success from 2025, facing challenges due to new technical regulations that could affect its position. At the Barcelona shakedown event, drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri tried out the car for the first time. Stella stated the need for further development in maximizing the performance of the Mercedes power unit and new active aerodynamics. Despite the early indications of areas needing improvement, Stella sees the current issues as part of the normal development process with major regulation changes. The upcoming track sessions in Bahrain will provide another opportunity to gather crucial learnings before the season starts.
