McLaren Formula 1 team principal Andrea Stella feels Ferrari’s disappoinꦯting result in qualifying for the Australian Grand Pri﷽x is not reflective of its true pace.

While Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locked out the front row for McLaren, the team that was expected to be its closest challenger at the start of th🐟e season endured a tough qualifying session.

Charles Leclerc qualified down in seventh place at the Albert🦋 Park Circuit, 0.659s down on polesitter Norris, while new star signing Lewis Hamilton wound up another two tenths adrift in eighth.

The two Ferraris were not only outqualified by McLaren, Merc💯edes and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, but also the Racing Bulls of Yuki Tsunoda and the Williꦰams of Alex Albon.

However, 💟Stella says he cannot afford to underestimate his rivals, suggesting Ferrari isn’t as far from McLaren as lap times woꦚuld suggest.

“I don't really take Ferrari's performance today𝐆 at face value,” he told Sky. “I think they are much closer than the gaps in Q3 would tell. 

“So I think♔ qualifying today has shown that Red Bull are not far, Verstappen has put toge🍨ther a strong lap, Russell [too]. We don't have to undervalue that.

“The car is certainly competitive but Oscar and Lando have done a very good job with some stress in the first attempt in Q3, but a very good job ⛎of maximising what was available.”

McLaren was considered by most to🍌 be the favourite heading into the new season, having won the constructors’ championship in 2024 and carried that form into testing in Bahrain last month.

But Stella says he was surprised that McLaren was four tenths quicker than its rivals in qualifying, as he expected Melbouꦿrne to be one of the weaker tracks for the MCL39.

“Perfect way to start the season, indeed,” he said. “It is almost surprising in a way that the car has enjoyed this kind of strengths at a circuit which we did not nec🐭essarily think would be one of our favourites of the season.

“I want to take this opportunity꧒ to thank the entire team at McLaren, men and women that have worked so hard over the winter to improve a car that was already quite competitive, a world champion car.

“We knew that we couldn't be complacent because Formula 1 is experiencing one of the most competitive situations eveꦡr, with so many cars that are in contention to fight for wins.”