McLaren boss Andrea Stella has revealed there is no plan to stop developing the team’s 2025 Formula 1 car at this stage, despite a sizeable lead in the championship.
McLaren has built on landing the Constructors’ title in 2024 with a storming start to this campaign as it has prevailed on all but one occasion in the opening six races.
That dominance has culminated in McLaren accumulating a substantial 105-point advantage over Mercedes, while Oscar Piastri heads Lando Norris in the standings.
McLaren’s handsome gap heading into the European leg prompted Stella to be quizzed on whether the squad could turn attention to next season earlier than planned.
With revised regulations on the horizon, the more time and resources invested in 2026 could prove advantageous against sides still upgrading their current machines.
But while some departments back at Woking have made that switch, Stella has disclosed that more developments will be coming to enhance the pacesetting MCL39.
“I think the way we are managing this, to be honest, I don’t expect this to be very different from what’s happening in the other nine teams,” Stella told media including Motorsport Week.
“We are still definitely keeping interest and momentum on this year’s car, because, like I said before, we are not giving anything for granted.
“We need to improve the car, especially in some conditions. And we are planning to do so with some upgrades.
“At the same time, there is so much to do on the 2026 [regulations] that pretty much from the 2nd of January we were working on the 2026 car.
“At the moment we have been trying to use the resources we have in the most logical and efficient way.
“At some stage we will shift our focus entirely on 2026. But definitely, even if the championships are in a good position, we have not given up attention on this year’s car.”
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