McLaren has revealed how there were telltale signs in Monaco that fuelled internal suspicions Mercedes would be a threat during the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix.
Mercedes headed into last weekend’s round at Montreal having not logged a podium in the opening eight races and trailing a seismic distance behind the leading trio.
But the German marque had been adamant over recent events that it had overcome its previous setbacks and was now on a correction course with its W15 machine.
Mercedes delivered on that optimism at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as George Russell took pole position and then claimed the team’s first podium in 2024 with third.
However, Stella has documented how he was certain Mercedes would add to the three-team battle at the front from intermittent indicators across the previous races.
The Italian explained how he was certain it was a matter of time until McLaren’s engine supplier posted the lap times it showed on a fleeting basis more consistently.
“I was already saying on Thursday to some of your colleagues that I think Mercedes is part of the fastest teams,” he told Autosport.
“Some of the lap times they did the Monaco, some of the lap times they did in the previous events, they were at that stage of the weekend for us, out of range.
“We could not do that lap time at that time of the weekend, not even with low fuel and engine up.
“Clearly they had potential, and I think they’re starting to learn how to use it.”
Mercedes’ sudden improvement has been attributed to a new front wing that was introduced in Monaco and has helped to dial out the balance issue limiting its pace.
Earlier in the season, Mercedes would end up hamstrung on circuits that needed a car to be optimised between both high-speed and low-speed corners through a lap.
However, Stella observed how onboard footage demonstrated the German manufacturer’s latest-spec front wing has made the W15 effortless for its drivers to handle.
“I’m not surprised that Mercedes could unlock some performance working on the front wing,” he added.
“There is a possibility that they have also kind of fixed some issues that they were having with the previous front wing.
“Potentially it was just too experimental, or it wasn’t delivering as they expected.
“But it looks like with this front wing development they’ve taken, their front end looks very strong.
“And even when you look at the onboards, which I was taking a look at of the Mercedes drivers, they hardly need to turn the steering wheel to get the nose of the car at the apex.”
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