Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
Heading into the Spanish Grand Prix, Ferrari's drivers have more experience with the Madring than their rivals. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes it is "not a big deal."
Ferrari was the first team ever to complete laps of the full Madring circuit with its 2026 Formula 1 cars. The Scuderia held a filming day back in July with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, during which they were able to drive up to 200 kilometers in total.
Previously, McLaren team principal Stella was asked whether this would give the Italian outfit an advantage heading into the Spanish Grand Prix weekend. He believes it could give Ferrari a slight advantage, but downplayed its overall effect.
'Not a big deal' according to Stella
He told GPblog, among others: "We were not informed that Ferrari would have had this session in Madrid. Actually, I think some images of filming were anyhow shared with the other teams, independently of the tyres, which are not really representative, and the track conditions that would have been horribly slippery, because it's just a construction site. There's always a little bit that you can learn.
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Andrea Stella - Photo: Race Pictures
"You have some references in terms, especially with this year’s power units, it's like you get some references such that you don't start from data that you have to completely assume because nobody has been there. So possibly a little bit of an advantage.
"It kind of arrived to us as a surprise, but nothing that goes against the regulations. So we are thankful that at least we can see the track could see the track from the onboard.
"And I think after a few laps in Madrid, we will have forgotten about that and we will just get along with just focusing on the race week. So not a big deal," he concluded.
Hamilton concedes title fight is slipping away after Monza
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The British driver finished sixth at the Italian Grand Prix. He said: "I think from today, we just lost so much ground to them on points, and it's far too late for those decisions to come. It's many, many weeks too late."
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