Breaking: McLaren Responds to F1 Rivals’ Allegations: “They’re F…read more
McLaren Dismisses Rival Allegations: “They’re Looking in the Wrong Direction”
McLaren has brushed off recent accusations from rival Formula 1 teams, with team principal Andrea Stella suggesting that the criticism only strengthens their position.
After a dominant start to the 2025 season—securing five wins from the first six races—McLaren has faced increased scrutiny from competitors questioning the legality of its MCL39 challenger. Allegations have included the use of flexible wings and water-cooled tyres, though the FIA has repeatedly cleared the team of any wrongdoing.
Speaking to RacingNews365, Stella said he views the attention as a positive, as it indicates rival teams are focusing on the wrong issues.
“It’s actually good news for us when competitors divert their attention from improving their own performance to investigating supposed features on our car—features that aren’t even there,” Stella stated. “And even if things like flexi-wings were present, they wouldn’t be the reason behind our performance.”
He continued, “I actually hope these kinds of distractions continue, because it means other teams aren’t focusing on what really matters. For us, it only adds to our momentum.”
McLaren Boss Downplays Ferrari Comparisons
Stella, who played a key role in Ferrari’s dominant era in the early 2000s, was also asked whether McLaren’s current form mirrors Ferrari’s 2004 campaign—where Schumacher won 12 of the first 13 races.
“That 2004 car was in a league of its own,” he reflected. “The only race we didn’t win early that season was due to an incident in Monaco involving Montoya. Otherwise, it could’ve been a clean sweep.”
While he draws inspiration from that era, Stella was quick to point out that McLaren isn’t there just yet: “It’s a benchmark I keep in mind as motivation, but we still have work to do to reach that level. We’re a few steps behind for now, but it’s a goal we’re working towards.”
McLaren’s response sends a clear message: the team remains laser-focused on performance—and undistracted by outside noise.
