Andrea Stella, the current Team Principal of the McLaren Formula 1 team, did not mince words when speaking about the impressive strength and competitiveness demonstrated by Scuderia Ferrari during the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. In particular, he highlighted Ferrari’s pace and performance during the opening phase of the race. Stella’s post-race statements painted a picture of an increasingly competitive scenario at the top of the Formula 1 grid, with multiple teams capable of fighting for wins.
Andrea Stella stated clearly to the media: “No, I am not surprised. Scuderia Ferrari has been competitive in the recent races. They were strong in dry conditions at the Silverstone Grand Prix and also in Belgium, although their potential was not fully visible there.” The McLaren boss went on to explain that Ferrari had already shown during Saturday’s qualifying session that they were capable of fighting for pole position. “Yesterday it was already clear that they had what it takes to battle for pole. And today, in the first part of the race, we certainly weren’t holding back—our goal was to push to the maximum—but Charles Leclerc was controlling the race with a certain level of authority.”
Andrea Stella impressed by Ferrari’s strong performance
McLaren attempted to keep up with Ferrari’s race pace in the early stages of the Grand Prix, but Charles Leclerc’s excellent race management, particularly during the initial stint, impressed even their direct competitors. Stella continued, “I believe Ferrari will be in the fight for victories throughout the remainder of the season. If there is something that did surprise me, it was how the final part of the race developed.” These words seemed to suggest that something may not have gone entirely according to plan on Charles Leclerc’s SF-25 in the closing stages of the Grand Prix.
The McLaren team boss added, “I don’t know if there were specific issues on Charles Leclerc’s car, but from now on we will definitely have to take both Ferrari and Mercedes into account, in both qualifying sessions and in the race itself.” This is a clear warning to McLaren that they are no longer the only consistent contenders at the front, as both Ferrari and Mercedes are showing signs of renewed competitiveness.
Even though Max Verstappen had a rather difficult weekend in Hungary, Andrea Stella made it clear that he does not expect the Dutch driver to remain off the pace for long. He explained, “Today Max was slightly out of contention, but I am confident that he will find a way to return to the fight for victories very soon. In this sport, nothing can ever be taken for granted.”
Andrea Stella concluded his remarks by highlighting the message shared within the McLaren team: “That is exactly what we said to ourselves yesterday after qualifying, and we will keep repeating it as we enter the second half of the season.” With Red Bull Racing facing increasing pressure, McLaren remaining consistently competitive, and now Scuderia Ferrari and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team making significant progress, the battle at the top is intensifying. The second part of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship season is shaping up to be more unpredictable and open than ever before.
