McLaren started off 2024 in good shape, heading into the fifth round of the season as the third team in the pecking order, ahead of Mercedes.
But while it remains strong on high-downforce circuits, the team admitted at the start of the year that its persistent low-speed weakness still hadn't been addressed yet.
That weakness could come back to haunt it at some circuits more than others, with F1's return to the Shanghai International Circuit a particular headache for the Woking team.
The 5.4km venue is not only littered with hairpins, but it also has a unique start of the lap through the ever-tightening Turn 1 through 4 complex that combines the type of slow, long corners where the McLaren lacks grip compared to its rivals.
"I have to say that of these first part of the season, China is the track that worries me the most from a competitiveness point of view," Stella acknowledged.
"You have so much low-speed, hairpins. Even in corner two, corner three, you spend so long in long corners.
"And I think it's been a theme I've been repeating. So far, we haven't been able to improve the car enough in these low-speed, medium-speed long corners.
"So from a competitive competitiveness point of view, I would expect a more difficult situation than here in Suzuka, Australia and the first part of the season."
Source: Autosport