Andrea Stella, Team Principal of the McLaren Formula 1 team, has expressed concern over what might happen during the opening lap of the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, particularly with regard to the battle between McLaren and Ferrari. The Italian engineer and team boss was interviewed following the end of the Qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps. McLaren driver Lando Norris secured pole position, with his teammate Oscar Piastri lining up right alongside him on the front row in second place. Just behind them in third position on the grid will be Charles Leclerc, after an impressive qualifying performance at the wheel of his Ferrari SF-25. Andrea Stella made it clear that he has one primary worry going into the Grand Prix: the challenge posed by Ferrari and Charles Leclerc at the start of the race.
During the Sprint Race held earlier in the weekend, Max Verstappen claimed victory after executing a decisive move in the opening lap, using the slipstream on the Kemmel straight to overtake. The Dutch driver maintained the lead for the entire Sprint Race, as Oscar Piastri struggled to find a way past on the long straight leading to Turn 5. That race demonstrated just how critical the slipstream effect can be at Spa.
Ferrari’s Straight-Line Advantage Could Be a Key Factor
Speaking to various media outlets, including ScuderiaFans.com, Andrea Stella offered a hypothetical scenario that could make McLaren’s race more complicated on Sunday. His comments were centered on the potential of Ferrari’s straight-line speed advantage—particularly at the start. All eyes are on Charles Leclerc and his SF-25, which appears to benefit from slightly superior performance in straight-line speed compared to its rivals. According to Stella, if the Ferrari driver manages to tuck into the slipstream behind the McLaren cars at the start, he could potentially leap ahead by the end of the opening lap.
“Ferrari has a small but clear advantage in terms of straight-line speed,” Andrea Stella explained. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Charles Leclerc was leading the race after the first lap. Of course, you can prepare some strategies, but ultimately, you have to leave it to the drivers to make their own judgments in real time on the track.” The Italian team principal emphasized that putting the car in a position to capitalize on the slipstream during the opening moments of the race would be a crucial factor in the outcome of the first lap.
McLaren Confident in Race Pace Despite Ferrari Threat
Despite his concerns about Ferrari’s potential to challenge at the start, Andrea Stella also reassured that McLaren remains confident in the overall strength and competitiveness of their MCL39 package at Spa. The British team has demonstrated impressive pace throughout the weekend, and Stella believes that the car’s superior performance will allow both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to fight back, even if they lose position at the start.
“What I will tell the drivers,” Stella added, “is that it’s only the first lap out of 44. When you have such a competitive car, you just need to focus on minimizing problems and managing the race properly. If we execute the race plan correctly, we should have the opportunity to regain the lead and dictate the pace.”
Andrea Stella’s comments reflect a cautious but calculated approach from McLaren, acknowledging Ferrari’s strengths while placing trust in the overall race strategy and driver decision-making. The opening lap at Spa has always been unpredictable, and with closely matched teams, the first few corners of the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix could once again play a pivotal role in determining the outcome.
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