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Stella: Brazil upgrades could help McLaren close 16-point gap to Red Bull

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Stella said McLaren had 16 points to make up on Red Bull for third in the Constructors' Championship. He believes its pace in Mexico and upgrades coming to Brazil next week give it a chance to recover at least that much.

From the GPBeat newsroomPublished · · 1 min

Andrea Stella said McLaren had 16 points to make up on Red Bull in the fight for third in the Constructors' Championship after Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix. He believes the pace McLaren showed there, together with upgrades coming to Brazil next week, gives the team a chance to recover at least that much. Stella said McLaren would have to be perfect in every respect to do so.

Stella said qualifying had left McLaren in a difficult position, although he believed Sunday's race confirmed its potential to finish on the podium. Lando Norris finished fifth after starting sixth. Oscar Piastri started 12th and finished seventh before a 10-second penalty for contact with Arvid Lindblad left him classified 16th.

Sources 01
  1. PRIMARY SOURCE2026 MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX – RACE REPORTMexico City progress provides São Paulo motivation as strong race pace keeps McLaren Mastercard’s fight for third aliveMcLaren F1 · Team statement; interested source