McLaren disclose Italian GP ‘misunderstanding’

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has stated it is a “misunderstanding” to think McLaren had the clear fastest car at the Italian Grand Prix. 

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locked out the front row for the start of the race as McLaren went in hunt of its second one-two finish of the campaign.

The Woking-based squad was beaten by Ferrari after Charles Leclerc completed the race on a one-stop strategy, as opposed to the two-stop option undertaken by McLaren.

McLaren was able to narrow the gap to Red Bull despite falling short of the race win - however, it missed out on valuable points as Leclerc pipped both MCL38 challengers to the chequered flag.

“I want to capitalise more on the competitiveness of the car,” Stella told media including RacingNews365. 

“In terms of the race, I think there may be a misunderstanding that the McLaren was by far the fastest car.”

Leclerc was able to stay close to Piastri during the opening stint, leading Stella to conclude Ferrari had a package to match McLaren.

“I think Leclerc was as fast as McLaren because he could stay with Oscar in the first stint,” he said.

“Normally, when you have the dirty air and you can stay with the race leader, it means you are at least as fast as the race leader. 

“This normally leads to some more degradation, like Leclerc then had in the final bit of the first stint, and even in the second stint, he was behind the two McLarens, and still he could stay with the McLarens.”