Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri enter the final race of the F1 2025 season split by season-ending title threat Max Verstappen.”There will be no call which excludes the other driver when the other driver is in condition to win.”- Andrea Stella.
Photo: RacePictures.
After the Dutch driver’s win in Qatar, the order in the Standings has been reshuffled, with Norris still leading the trio of title hopefuls, but with Verstappen jumping ahead of the once championship favourite Piastri.
The matter of issuing team orders has been a hot topic at McLaren since the 2024 F1 Hungarian Grand Prix, and as the team heads into the final race of the current campaign seeking their first double title since 1998, Stella has warned both drivers the team will only back the driver who has the most realistic chance to clinch the title.
“I think whatever call we make in terms of using the collaboration of our drivers, we will have to follow some of our fundamental principles, which are foundational to our approach,” Stella told GPblog after the race at the Lusail International Circuit.
“We want to be fair to our drivers, we want to race with integrity, and we want to race in a way that doesn’t surprise our drivers. So between now and Abu Dhabi, there will be further conversation with Lando and Oscar. We will confirm our racing approach and we will continue to work on it.”
Stella outlines when title killing team orders will come
Stella then revealed that McLaren will issue team orders should they need to, in order to ensure the title is won by a McLaren driver. The Italian team principal said: “But certainly what I can say is that if any of the drivers are in condition to pursue the quest to win the title, then we will respect this and there will be no call which excludes the other driver when the other driver is in condition to win.
“So we will see what scenario will unfold, but definitely what I can say is that there will be conversations and there will be a way of going racing which is united between the team and the drivers like we have always done,” Stella concluded.
Stella’s hand forced into issuing team orders by VerstappenStella has admitted recent team mistakes – including Las Vegas double DSQ and a missed Safety Car pit stop in Doha – have hurt their title bids, and whilst he ensures both drivers will be free to race, he is prepared to use team orders if necessary to ensure a McLaren driver beats Verstappen.
Read Stella’s full statements here.
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