McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes the current Formula 1 grid is the strongest the sport has ever seen. His view reflects a season filled with close racing, rising talent and small gaps that separate the front of the field from the midfield. Stella’s comments have sparked discussion in the media because they point to a shift in how teams value drivers and how competitive the modern field has become.
Stella’s Statement
Stella shared a clear view of the 2025 season. He said, “I think what we see in this season in Formula 1, in terms of competitiveness. I do not recall that there was such a competitive pool of drivers in any other season.”
This statement holds weight because Stella has worked with some of the best. He has been part of title winning groups at Ferrari and McLaren. He has seen eras shaped by Alonso, Hamilton, Vettel, Button and Raikkonen. His comparison covers two decades of top level driving.
Why He Believes the Grid Is Stronger
The current field contains a blend of drivers at their peak and young talent rising fast. 10 drivers on the current grid have won a grand prix, 10 have taken pole and 15 have stood on the podium. The only ones without a top level result are Yuki Tsunoda and the rookies Oliver Bearman, Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto.
The gap between the top ten and the rest of the field has shrunk. Small mistakes now cost positions. This forces every driver to operate with discipline and accuracy. Stella sees value in this. He sees a grid where skill and preparation matter more than team legacy.
The championship fight centres on the McLaren drivers. Norris enters the final races as a former European F3 champion and F2 runner-up. Piastri brings titles from Formula Renault Eurocup, F3 and F2. Their records show why they are now leading the way.
Stella thinks the picture is wider than that. He says there are seven or eight drivers on the grid with the ability to win a world title. For him, this proves how strong the modern junior ladder has become.
“The new generation of drivers, they’re just so good, and now you have seven, eight drivers which are at world championship level. Like I say, I’m not sure this has happened before,” the Italian added.
The Role of Younger Drivers
Stella’s comments also highlight how strong the younger drivers have become. Antonelli, Bearman, Hadjar and Bortoleto bring speed and confidence that older rookies rarely showed. Piastri is a title contender in his third season. Norris is now a consistent race winner and championship leader.
This new wave pushes the experienced drivers. It forces people like Verstappen, Hamilton and Alonso to raise their level each weekend. Stella views this as a healthy cycle. Competition from below strengthens the quality of the entire field.
The Importance of Race Craft
The 2025 season shows that raw speed is no longer enough. The races demand clean execution, strong decision making and smart tyre use. Many drivers now show these traits. The quality of race craft across the grid has risen.
Stella believes this makes the product on track stronger. It makes strategy more valuable. A clever call or a smart defensive move can change a race. Teams must trust the driver to deliver under pressure. That trust is higher now because the field has fewer weak points.
Smaller Performance Gaps
Technical regulations have compressed performance across the grid. Cars share similar strengths. Margins between teams often sit within tenths. This makes driver influence more visible. The Brazilian GP saw the closest top 10 in qualifying in F1 history, which backs up this point.
Stella sees a direct link between this shift and the level of competition. When cars are similar, the driver makes the difference. He believes the modern grid handles this challenge better than any era he has worked in.
What Stella’s View Means
Stella’s claim helps explain why McLaren has invested so heavily in its young driver pair. He sees a grid where growth, discipline and adaptability matter more than ever. He sees a sport shaped by elite preparation and constant learning.
If this is the strongest field in history, McLaren must keep developing its drivers at the same rate as the car. Stella understands this. His comment sends a message. To stay in front, the team must match a grid that keeps getting stronger.
The best grids in F1 history
1988
Often viewed as the benchmark for elite driver lineups.
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Ayrton Senna
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Alain Prost
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Nelson Piquet
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Nigel Mansell
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Gerhard Berger
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Michele Alboreto
Four world champions lined up together, and many of the midfield drivers were proven winners or future stars. The Senna–Prost rivalry also elevated the level of competition.
1991
A mix of legends at their peak and rising stars.
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Ayrton Senna
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Alain Prost
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Nigel Mansell
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Nelson Piquet
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Michael Schumacher (rookie season)
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Mika Hakkinen
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Jean Alesi
This grid saw the overlap of the old guard with the arrival of Schumacher and Hakkinen, two future world champions.
2007
One of the most competitive modern grids.
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Fernando Alonso
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Lewis Hamilton (rookie)
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Kimi Raikkonen
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Felipe Massa
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Jenson Button
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Mark Webber
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Nico Rosberg
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Robert Kubica
This season is famous for the Alonso–Hamilton battle and Raikkonen winning the title by a single point.
2010
A season with four teams capable of winning and plenty of elite drivers.
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Sebastian Vettel
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Fernando Alonso
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Lewis Hamilton
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Jenson Button
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Mark Webber
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Nico Rosberg
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Felipe Massa
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Robert Kubica
The season ended with four drivers still able to win the title at the final round.
2012
Many consider this the most chaotic and competitive grid of the hybrid-predecessor era.
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Sebastian Vettel
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Lewis Hamilton
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Fernando Alonso
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Kimi Raikkonen
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Jenson Button
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Mark Webber
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Nico Rosberg
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Michael Schumacher (returning)
Seven different winners in the first seven races show the level of parity and talent.
2021
A modern classic with elite talent spread across the grid.
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Lewis Hamilton
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Max Verstappen
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Fernando Alonso
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Sebastian Vettel
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Kimi Raikkonen
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Daniel Ricciardo
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Charles Leclerc
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Carlos Sainz
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Lando Norris
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George Russell
A mix of multiple world champions, rising stars and sharp midfield fighters. The Verstappen–Hamilton title fight remains one of the most intense in decades.
Final Thoughts
Andrea Stella’s view of the 2025 grid is not simple praise. It is an assessment from a leader who has worked with world champions. The gap between the best and the rest has never been smaller. The rising talent has never been more prepared. The quality of race craft has never been higher.
Stella believes this is the best grid Formula 1 has ever seen. The season supports his view. Drivers at the top must fight harder. The midfield is packed with talent. Every race tests skill and control.
If this level holds, the next era of the sport will deliver the most intense competition Formula 1 has produced.
