Photo: Race Pictures

McLaren boss singles out the 'teams to beat' in candid pecking order verdict

14:01, 21 Feb

Updated: 14:21, 21 Feb

byTobia Elia

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella sees Ferrari and Mercedes currently ahead in the pecking order after Bahrain testing.

“In terms of understanding the competitive order I would say that this test has confirmed that Ferrari and Mercedes look like the teams to beat”

- Andrea Stella

Stella sees Ferrari and Mercedes ahead of McLaren

The Woking-based team ranked fourth for laps completed during week two of testing in Bahrain, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris setting the third and fourth fastest times of the entire two-session test.

Speaking with GPblog and other media at the end of testing, the Italian manager sees McLaren fighting among the top four teams, but believes Ferrari and Mercedes currently have something extra heading into the start of the season.

“In terms of understanding the competitive order I would say that this test has confirmed that Ferrari and Mercedes look like the teams to beat. I think McLaren is not far. I think it's good to see that we are part of the top four group, but I think these two teams seem to have shown a little bit of an advantage.”

Photo: Race Pictures

Brown makes bold call on McLaren’s position in the F1 hierarchy

McLaren’s CEO echoed Stella’s view, suggesting that the same “big four” teams that have dominated recent seasons still appear to hold an edge over the rest of the field on the eve of the new regulatory era.

He added that Ferrari and Mercedes look particularly strong, while noting that Red Bull has likely yet to reveal its full potential, concluding that McLaren firmly sees itself as part of the leading quartet.

Read the full story here.