Sometimes in Formula 1, a second-place finish feels like a win—and sometimes it stings like a loss. For McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, Sunday's 2026 Miami Grand Prix delivered both emotions in equal measure.

Kimi Antonelli took the checkered flag for Mercedes, but for much of the race, McLaren's Lando Norris was running ahead of the championship leader. The story of the race, however, was written in the pit lane. Under the looming threat of rain, McLaren's decision on when to call Norris in proved costly. Antonelli pitted first, delivered a blistering out-lap on fresh tires, and snatched the lead—and ultimately the win—from the reigning champion.

"We had an opportunity to win, 100 percent," Stella admitted to Sky Sports F1 after the race. "We were chased by a car that was a little bit faster than us, we were monitoring the weather at the same time, and when Kimi pitted, his out lap was just mega. We couldn't match it with our performance in the in lap, we lost possibly a little bit of time in the execution."

It was a classic case of the undercut: Mercedes' gamble paid off, and McLaren was left to count the cost. But Stella was quick to balance the disappointment with perspective. "We could have done better, but we are very happy. We take all the positives out of this weekend. We are there, and there is some new stuff coming for the coming races—so exciting times ahead."

That optimism isn't without foundation. The Miami weekend marked the first race after F1's enforced April break, and McLaren arrived with a suite of upgrades on the MCL40. The result was immediate: Norris dominated Saturday's Sprint, winning by 3.8 seconds over teammate Oscar Piastri. A McLaren one-two in the Sprint is the kind of form that wins championships. Losing the main event on a strategy call? That's the kind of detail that decides them.

Mercedes entered Miami as the constructors' championship leader with 135 points, holding a 45-point gap over Ferrari. McLaren, still chasing consistency, knows the pace is there. Now it's about converting those "could have beens" into trophies.