Andrea Stella issues upgrade assessment after Lando Norris leads McLaren Miami sprint 1-2

McLaren Formula 1 team principal Andrea Stella seemed cautiously optimistic about the team’s upgrades after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured a 1-2 finish in the Miami sprint race.

The Woking outfit turned up to the Miami Grand Prix weekend with an almost new car after working on extensive upgrades during the five-week break in April.

After Norris and Piastri finished with a strong 1-2 finish in the sprint race, Stella was pleased to see that the car continued to show “good characteristics from a degradation point of view” in long runs, but explained that the grid is still “very close”.

“It’s good to bring upgrades so that we can become more and more competitive,” Stella told Sky Sports F1. “It was important to confirm that the upgrades work like we’ve seen yesterday over a single lap. Today, it was important to see them in long runs and even hot conditions.

“So nobody knew exactly what the degradation would have been, but it looks like the car has retained the good characteristics from a degradation point of view.

“So good indications so far, but everyone is very close. I think Lando might have benefited from being the lead car, in clean air, possibly whoever was the first today could have won the sprint.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Photo by: Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

“I think everyone is close. And we will see more in a few hours in qualifying.”

Sprint winner Norris explained to David Coulthard after the 19-lap race: “Nice to be back on the top step! A good day for us. It was hot out there and sweaty. I was pushing, trying to find that balance of pushing and staying relaxed to not make mistakes.

“A good start to the weekend but now I’ve got to do it all over again.”

McLaren currently sits third in the constructors’ standings behind championship leader Mercedes, and Ferrari in second place.

Photos from Miami GP – Saturday