12/10/2025 13:50
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella maintains the "biggest
challenge" facing the Woking-based squad is on the horizon, having
wrapped up a second successive F1 constructors' championship. The
looming overhaul of F1's chassis and power unit regulations creates
considerable uncertainty ahead of the 2026 campaign and means that,
despite having pulled itself up from the back of the grid in early
2023, McLaren is far from guaranteed success next year, even as
title holders. Celebrating the papaya team's latest success at the
McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) earlier in the week, the Italian
thanked the families of the entire operation, who also experience
the "sacrifice" and "intensity" of life in F1. The 54-year-old
said: "It's remarkable to be celebrating our second constructors'
championship in two years. "To be able to secure the 2025 title
with six races yet to go is unbelievable. This incredible result
for the entire team is a special moment and one we can reflect on
with immense pride and recognition as consecutive world champions.
"Thank you to Lando [Norris] and Oscar [Piastri]. And thank you to
our families, our loved ones and friends who share with us the
sacrifice and the intensity of competing in Formula 1. "Thank you
to our team-mates at HPP, our technical and commercial partners,
and our fantastic fans. We have achieved this success together, and
that will only breed hunger to continue this success going
forward." However, Stella was keen to highlight the mountain ahead,
one even greater than the ensuing F1 drivers' championship fight
between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris that will play out over the
rest of the year. Likening the switch to 2026 to "climbing
Everest", he vowed the entire McLaren team would "attack" the task
together. "We have six rounds remaining; however, we must remain
focused and prepared, as our biggest challenge is still to come
with the change of regulations in 2026," he said. "This challenge
will be like climbing Everest, and is one we will attack together.
Every minute counts, and as a team, we will make sure we continue
to work hard to continue our journey as world champions."
