Stella says qualifying cost McLaren in Mexico City Grand Prix

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has said that a difficult qualifying session at the Mexico City Grand Prix left the team on the back foot, negating the raw race pace of its car. The team spent much of the 71-lap race trapped in dirty air, which limited the car's podium potential.

The source text notes that the thin air at high altitude makes cooling difficult and affects aerodynamics, factors that compound the problems of running in traffic. Stella's comments, as reported, suggest the Saturday session was the decisive factor in the team's result.