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Andrea Stella Admits Ferrari and Mercedes ‘A Step Ahead’ After 2026 F1 Pre-Season Testing
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has offered a candid assessment of the competitive order ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season opener, admitting that both Ferrari and Mercedes appear to hold a slight advantage following the final pre-season test.
After six intensive days of running under the new 2026 regulations, Stella suggested that while McLaren are “not far” behind, the early signs point to Ferrari and Mercedes being “a step ahead” heading into the Australian Grand Prix on March 6–8.
The final test concluded with Charles Leclerc delivering a statement performance for Ferrari, topping the timesheets by more than eight tenths of a second over Lando Norris. Leclerc’s impressive single-lap pace was complemented by a strong race simulation run during the heat of the day traditionally one of the most revealing indicators of genuine competitiveness.
Despite the headline time gap, Stella was cautious about drawing firm conclusions. He pointed to race simulations as the most accurate measure of true performance but stressed how track evolution and timing can significantly distort comparisons.
“Very difficult to say,” Stella admitted when asked about the pecking order. He referenced a comparable race simulation between Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen earlier in the week, noting that both runs occurred at a similar time of day and showed comparable pace.
“Often, the race simulation is actually where you can more accurately see what the genuine performance of cars is,” he explained. “The reason why we have to be careful is that depending on the time of the day, the race simulation may be quite a lot faster.”
He highlighted that Norris’ strong race simulation on the final afternoon came at a time when the circuit conditions were at their quickest across the entire test. As rubber built up and temperatures stabilised, lap times naturally improved, complicating direct comparisons between different days.
Still, Stella’s overall impression was clear: “I think McLaren and Red Bull are probably very similar. Ferrari and Mercedes are a step ahead.”
That assessment suggests an incredibly tight leading pack under the sweeping 2026 regulation changes, which have dramatically altered both chassis and power unit characteristics. With increased reliance on electrical energy harvesting and deployment, efficiency and energy management have become central performance differentiators.
One notable strength observed during testing was Red Bull’s deployment efficiency. Their ability to sustain electrical energy usage for longer periods could prove decisive at circuits with fewer heavy braking zones areas where drivers harvest energy under the new rules.
Stella emphasised that circuit characteristics will heavily influence the competitive order in 2026. He explained that while Bahrain’s layout features numerous braking zones, allowing for straightforward energy harvesting, other tracks present a greater challenge.
“In Bahrain, it was relatively easier because you spend enough time in braking that basically you do all the harvesting braking,” he said. Drivers did not need to lift and coast excessively to generate electrical energy, simplifying race management.
However, attention now turns to Albert Park for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix a circuit Stella believes will pose a more complex deployment challenge.
“In Australia it will be a little bit more difficult,” he explained. “We will see the drivers busier in terms of their driving style to make sure that the power unit is exploited in terms of harvesting energy and deployment of energy in a way that is efficient and efficient for a long time.”
The emphasis on long-term efficiency highlights how 2026 cars demand strategic finesse, not just outright speed. Managing the balance between harvesting and deploying electrical energy over a full race distance could be decisive in wheel-to-wheel battles.
McLaren’s status as a Mercedes customer team also adds another layer to the competitive equation. While McLaren use Mercedes power units, Stella acknowledged the inherent limitation of not being a works outfit. Mercedes’ engine department can integrate more seamlessly with their own chassis and aerodynamic teams.
Nevertheless, Stella praised the collaboration with Mercedes High Performance Powertrains (HPP), expressing gratitude for the ongoing development effort.
“There’s been really strong collaboration,” he said. “We are very grateful for the efforts that HPP have pulled off to make sure that we are making progress every single day.”
At the same time, he admitted there remains significant work to optimise engine control systems and overall power unit exploitation. Understanding how to fully utilise new features available to drivers will be critical not only for lap time, but for racecraft.
“One thing we needed to learn is how to use the features available in the power unit and what kind of new features you need under the driver’s control,” Stella added. “The power unit needs to be competitive not only from a lap time point of view, but also from a raceability point of view like when you have to compete with your rivals on track.”
As the paddock heads to Australia, the early narrative suggests Ferrari and Mercedes may begin the season with a narrow advantage. However, with McLaren and Red Bull closely matched and circuit characteristics set to influence performance swings, the 2026 campaign promises immediate unpredictability.
If Stella’s measured optimism proves accurate, fans could be in for one of the most tightly contested season openers in recent memory.
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