McLaren boss Andrea Stella has said the team’s 2026 plans could have been “heavily compromised” had it continued developing its 2025 Formula 1 car like Red Bull.
The earlier-season dominance that had helped McLaren to claim the Constructors’ title has subsided in recent months as Red Bull has mounted a renewed challenge.
Max Verstappen has capitalised on improvements to Red Bull’s RB21 to claim three victories in four races, a run that has propelled him into championship contention.
Red Bull’s remarkable turnaround began at the Italian Grand Prix – a race that Verstappen commanded – where the team introduced a revised floor and new front wing.
Now, Red Bull has provided an extra boost to Verstappen’s unexpected bid to land a fifth consecutive title with more changes to the floor area this weekend in Mexico.
But despite the Dutchman having closed the gap at a rapid rate, Stella outlined last week in Austin that McLaren won’t respond to Red Bull with updates to the MCL39.
Expanding on the decision, Stella explained that the Woking-based squad has remained committed to ensuring that it is best prepared to tackle the new rules in 2026.
Asked what would’ve happened had McLaren opted to bring updates, Stella told media including Motorsport Week: “The 2026 project would be heavily compromised.
“We want to win championships in the future. To win championships in the future you need to have a competitive car.
“We have been very considerate in the timing of switching our full resources to 2026.”
McLaren had limited headroom to improve 2025 car
Stella indicated that Red Bull had more low-hanging fruit to extract from its 2025 machine, while McLaren is also having to contend with less wind tunnel testing time.
“It takes weeks for us to add one point of aerodynamic efficiency because we were at the plateau in our aerodynamic development,” the Italian added.
“In the 2026 car, every week we add a lot of downforce. So that’s where with the best information you have available, you have to make a call.
“We also don’t have to forget that by being the champions, we are the most restricted by the regulations in terms of the wind tunnel allowance and the CFD allowance.
“So it’s not like we have an unlimited amount of resources that we can use. It comes from the same pot when it comes to CFD and aerodynamic wind tunnel testing.
“And because we were so much in the diminishing returns, we needed to be realistic and shift our attention to 2026.
“Then we look at Red Bull and when we consider some of the complaints they had at the start of the season, perhaps they had more margin to develop efficiently, focusing on 2025, and perhaps they are happier to give up a little bit of the 2026.”
READ MORE – Red Bull explains latest update to bolster Max Verstappen’s title challenge at F1 Mexico GP
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