(Motorsport-Total.com) – The 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix could prove to be a turning point in the balance of power in Formula 1. After Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari victory, the technical assessment of the competition is causing a stir. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella draws clear conclusions from the weekend – and currently sees Ferrari at the forefront of chassis performance.
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While Mercedes can continue to rely on the overall strength of its package, McLaren goes significantly further in assessing the pure vehicle base. The Scuderia’s enormous performance in the corners, in particular, has impressed the competition.
Stella speaks of a clear trend that was not only evident in Barcelona but had already been hinted at in previous races.
“Very clear indications” of Ferrari chassis dominance
Andrea Stella analyzes the Scuderia’s development after the Barcelona update with unusual clarity. Ferrari brought an extensive upgrade package to the start, consisting of a new front end, a revised underbody, and adjustments to the sidepods and diffuser.
The result was a significantly more competitive overall package – including Hamilton’s maiden victory in the red car. “I think this race gives us very clear indications,” says Stella. And these indications, for the McLaren team principal, point in a clear direction. “These indications are that Ferrari is currently the car with the best chassis.”
The performance in the middle sector of the track was particularly striking, precisely where aerodynamic grip and mechanical stability are crucial. “We see in the middle sector, especially in the medium-speed corners, that Ferrari is the fastest car,” explains Stella.
The limitation: Ferrari is not necessarily the strongest car on the straights. But precisely the cornering performance is currently the decisive factor in the field.
Barcelona as a technical benchmark
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is traditionally considered one of the most revealing tracks on the Formula 1 calendar when it comes to assessing vehicle balance. This is precisely why Ferrari’s performance there carries particular weight. Stella emphasizes that the findings are not surprising but confirm existing trends.
“These indications are in some ways consistent with what we already knew,” says the McLaren team principal. Ferrari had already gradually improved in recent races, but the upgrade in Barcelona made this progress clearly visible.
Despite Ferrari’s strong performance, Stella sees the overall balance of power more nuanced. While Ferrari is currently setting standards in the chassis area, Mercedes still has advantages in the overall construct – particularly due to the power unit.
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“Mercedes probably has the best overall package over one lap when chassis and power unit are considered together,” explains Stella. This means the balance of power at the top remains tight but clearly segmented: Ferrari, according to McLaren, dominates cornering performance, Mercedes scores on the straights and in the overall package, while McLaren itself still sees a need for development.
McLaren self-critical: Deficits in grip and tire usage
Stella speaks particularly openly about his own weaknesses. While McLaren has a competitive car in fast corners, it loses significant time in slow and medium-speed sections. “We see that we are competitive in high-speed corners,” he says.
But that alone is not enough. “Overall, we struggle with grip in medium-speed and slow corners.” The central problem, according to Stella, lies in aerodynamic efficiency and the way the car uses the tires.
“We need to add more grip, of an aerodynamic nature – so put more downforce on the tires,” he explains. In addition, there is a second critical area: tire preparation, especially in qualifying. “Often we lose time at the beginning of the lap,” says Stella. “And in the race, we want to reduce wear.”
McLaren therefore has a clear technical agenda. “We need to add aerodynamic performance and work better with the tires.”
Ferrari as a benchmark for the field
Ferrari’s step forward is also recognized within the competition. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies explicitly praised the new package and made it clear that the victory in Barcelona was no coincidence. The combination of chassis and power unit, according to him, was crucial for success.
For McLaren driver Lando Norris, the situation is even more drastic. The Brit said that Ferrari would dominate the field without the current engine status. “If they had a better engine, they would dominate everyone,” says Norris.
Oscar Piastri sees the Scuderia’s strength primarily in the balance of downforce and tire management – especially under difficult conditions like in Barcelona. Despite the clear assessment, Stella looks ahead. The decisive factor now is not the snapshot, but the development over the next few races.
“We want to improve our car race by race,” he says. At the same time, it is clear that the competition will also continue to push. “Our opponents will also bring upgrades.” For McLaren, therefore, one task remains above all: to consistently continue its own development path, without being too distracted by the current shifts in the balance of power.
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