If Formula 1 were a chess match, Andrea Stella is making his opening gambit. The McLaren boss recently proclaimed that Ferrari and Mercedes are the teams to beat after pre‑season testing, even though his own team performed solidly.

Some saw it as a realistic assessment; others read it as classic mind games designed to relieve pressure on his drivers and set expectations low, giving them room to surprise when the lights go out in Bahrain.

Stella’s comments also underscore the tight competitive field this year. Pre‑season times suggest Ferrari has found consistency and Mercedes has solved its bouncing issues, while Red Bull remains a dark horse with unpredictable upgrades.

McLaren has made strides with aerodynamic improvements, but there’s still caution around reliability. For a team that last won a championship in 2008, playing the psychological game could be as important as on‑track performance.

For Kenyan fans who stay up late to catch races, the narrative is simple: F1 drama isn’t just on track, it’s in press conferences, social media and strategic soundbites. Every comment becomes a headline, every nod or smirk gets dissected.

Let the season of shade begin, and may the best strategist — on and off track — win.