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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

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Aston Martin F1 Team Garage

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Tribute to Alex Zanardi

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Zak Brown, McLaren

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

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

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Flavio Briatore, Alpine

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Tribute to the late Alex Zanardi

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Miami GP - Saturday, in photos

Formula 1
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