Amid McLaren’s Horror Show, Andrea Stella Blames the Flawed “Structures” To Cover Up Outdated Mistakes

One of the longest-running Formula 1 teams is currently on a declining trend. The horror show of McLaren is turning into an unending tale, in contrast to the more effective performances of teams like Alpine, Haas, and Alfa Romeo. And as the challenges mount, the Papaya team is coming under intense fan scrutiny. In response, team principal Andrea Stella has stepped forward and accused the MCL60 of having problematic “structures” in order to conceal the outdated errors.

Since the start of the season, McLaren has only had hardships. With their star driver Lando Norris getting inside the points just twice in five races, with the best result coming at P6, the McLaren horror show has begun to haunt them. Their poor performance has them tied with Alpine for fifth place in the constructor’s championship on 14 points. Many of us have been left wondering why a team with eight world championships is going through such a dilemma. No worries, the TP of McLaren has offered an answer to this.

Andrea Stella claims that everything is mostly related to the squad’s substandard methods of operation. He is certain that the restrictions in the design of their MCL 60 are caused by insufficiently representative circumstances that are sparked by their antiquated wind tunnel and techniques. The man from Orvieto asserts that the main issue can be understood following the employment of modern technology, i.e. the wind tunnel. And both the simulator and Wind Tunnel is expected to land in the McLaren garage at the end of June.

Stella explained to Racingnews365, “The wind tunnel we use is more complex than those of other structures. While the one we will have available soon will make the job easier. This is because you will be able to have a better representation thanks, for example, to the adaptive walls in the tunnel that reflect what the car sees on the track. As a result, the DNA of the problems is associated with some limitations of the methodologies that we have used now for years and that somehow seem to continue despite even a change in regulation.”

While concluding Stell added, “In a few months’ time, therefore, we will compare the data reported from the wind tunnel in the McLaren Technology Centre with that of the facility we have used over the past two years.”

READ MORE: Thought Lando Was the Future..”: McLaren Fans Slam Zak Brown’s Contradictory Comments While Being Concerned for Norris

Zak Brown stated at the start of the season that the team had missed some important developmental milestones, and it was clear that they had. However, the team exhibited some promise at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, only to have a disaster in Miami, where they were the second slowest on the track. It appears that Andrea Stella and company have turned to some American assistance now that the water is above the head.

To put an end to the horror show at McLaren Andrea Stella and Co. turn to American Help

The Papaya fans have grown terrified after watching that horror spectacle at Miami GP. But now that the team has hired a smart strategic thinker, who not only has experience in American racing but was also essential in restoring Mclaren’s grandeur in 2020, things are looking up.

Gil de Ferran is the one we are referring to. The Brazilian driver has won the Indianapolis 500 and is a two-time IndyCar champion, making him a complete package with a wealth of American knowledge. Prior to this, Ferran had collaborated with the papaya army from 2018 to 2021, and with his efforts, he had elevated McLaren from the bottom to third in 2020.

Team principal Andrea Stella, who had already collaborated with Ferran, praises his abilities in a recent interview with Motorsports. Stella mentioned Ferran’s role and remarked, “Gil is essentially a consultant, so non-operational, non-executive and that’s a role as a consultant to myself and to Piers [Thynne, the newly appointed McLaren Racing COO].”

Stella added, “We thought that Gil, with us during this process, during this journey, would add horsepower from a leadership point of view. He is a brilliant person that we want to have alongside.”

WATCH THIS STORY: How Lando Norris Had a Chance to Go to Red Bull But Instead Chose McLaren

Do you think the upcoming upgrades in the MCL60 can bring the Woking-based squad a little up the midfield and fight the Mercedes and Ferrari?