McLaren boss Andrea Stella has admitted the team has been “below our expectations” after a “challenging” first part of the 2026 Formula One season.
In the second grand prix of the year, both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri failed to score points last time out in Canada in a major blow to their title ambitions and McLaren’s Constructors’ Championship defence.
Mercedes have won the five grands prix this season to lead Ferrari by 72 points and McLaren by 113 ahead of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1.
“The start of the season has been challenging. We have had problems of a different kind,” said Stella.
“If you think about the first race, we had problems with Oscar in the laps to the grid, then China [with a double DNS]it was a painful one with a problem on the electrical side of the power unit.
“In Canada we had problems in pretty much every area of ​​racing. From the sports and racing side to reliability and an accident, so there’s definitely a lot to take off and go through.
“At the same time, there is an encouraging indication in relation to the development of the car and how much we are learning in relation to utilization of the power unit.
“It’s definitely below what we expected to be in contention for the championship.”
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Norris crosses the line to win the Miami Grand Prix Sprint, with Piastri finishing second
McLaren had been on an upward trajectory after challenging Mercedes for victory in Japan and Miami, with Norris winning the sprint from Piastri at the latter.
Over the past three years, McLaren has been the benchmark when it comes to development, but the front wing they brought to Canada was taken off the car after practice, suggesting it wasn’t performing as expected.
Norris has since confirmed that the front wing will be reinstated either in Monaco or on the more conventional track at next weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.
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Norris reflects on Canadian Grand Prix where ‘not many things went our way’
Stella is not writing off McLaren’s title hopes, but is wary that the team has already lost a lot of points to Mercedes.
He said: “We don’t think too much about what has been. We just try to learn every day so that for the next race we are as prepared as possible. We definitely believe that the championship is not signed.
“We want to be in this championship and we want the championship to be decided in Abu Dhabi. I think it’s a strong determination that we have at McLaren and we want to make this happen.”
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments that have taken place at the Monaco Grand Prix
Stella: McLaren in ‘good position’ to target repeat of Monaco triumph
Ferrari are widely seen as favorites for the all-important pole position this Saturday in Monaco, which will give Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton a strong chance of victory on Sunday to end Mercedes’ grand prix winning streak.
While the rules have completely changed from last year to this season, Ferrari and McLaren’s car characteristics mean they could be the top two teams again in Monaco this weekend.
Twelve months ago, Norris held off Leclerc in a close race-long battle to win F1’s most famous race for the first time.
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Norris won last year’s Monaco Grand Prix
Stella said: “We can definitely say that at the current level of development the McLaren car is probably best suited to low speed cornering rather than medium and high speed corners where we see Ferrari and Mercedes being superior. This should put us in a good position for Monaco.
“At the same time, in Monaco there are a few medium and high speed corners. Like Casino Corner, that is more than 150 km/h, Tabac is 180 km/h, the swimming pool is 200 km/h, so actually medium and high speed performance is important in Monaco.
“But some of the low-speed corners are extremely low. In a way it’s in its own range. I definitely see Ferrari as probably the favourite, but McLaren can be competitive and we’ll try to repeat the performance last year in Monaco.”
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Martin reflects on the brutal conditions of the Monaco Grand Prix during his racing career
Sky Sports F1’s live Monaco GP programme
Thursday, June 4
12.20: F3 Exercise
13.55: F2 Exercise
14.55: Drivers’ press conference
16:00: Paddock Uncut
Friday, June 5
10:00: F3 qualifying
12:00: Monaco GP Practice One (session starts at 12:30)
14.05: F2 qualification
15:00: Team managers’ press conference
3.30pm: Monaco GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
17.15: The F1 show
Saturday 6 June
9.40am: F3 Sprint
11.15: Monaco GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30)
13.10: F2 Sprint
14.15: Monaco GP qualifying build-up
15:00: MONACO GP QUALIFYING*
17:00: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday, June 7
6.50: F3 Feature Race
8.30: F2 Feature Race
10.50: Porsche Supercup
12.30: Monaco GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
14:00: MONACO GRAND PRIX*
16:00: Monaco GP reaction: Checkered flag*
17.00: Ted’s notebook
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Watch the Monaco Grand Prix, the first of six races in eight weeks, live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime