“WE HAVE NOT BEEN FAST ENOUGH” – WHY MCLAREN SEES MONACO AS A REALITY CHECK

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella admitted recent performances in Canada and Monaco delivered a "reality check," following strong upgrades and a Miami double podium. The team has simply not been fast enough, especially in race pace, and reliability has been a significant concern. McLaren lacked sufficient aerodynamic load on high-downforce circuits, hindering their ability to get Pirelli tires into the optimal operating window.

Beyond outright pace, the MCL38 has suffered reliability issues across multiple areas, including power unit and gearbox failures for Lando Norris. Stella acknowledges these widespread problems might be symptomatic of a "relatively young" project. While Stella hopes for a "2024 scenario" turnaround, where the team caught up significantly, he notes the current trajectory is less convincing. McLaren needs to address these fundamental issues quickly to remain a factor in the championship fight.