McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says that his team\u2019s approach to managing drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris will not change despite securing the constructors\u2019 championship.<\/p>\n
The team sealed their second consecutive constructors\u2019 title last weekend in Singapore. McLaren\u2019s current points tally of 650 points is exactly double that of closest rivals, Mercedes.<\/p>\n
Both Piastri and Norris sit atop the drivers\u2019 championship standings having shared 12 victories between them over the opening 18 rounds of the season. But the team\u2019s management of their drivers and use of team orders at various points in the season have drawn criticism from fans and rivals alike.<\/p>\n
During the Italian Grand Prix, Piastri was asked to move aside and hand second place in the race to Norris after his team mate had fallen behind Piastri as a result of a slower pit stop. In Singapore, Piastri was heard expressing frustrations over team radio during the race after Norris had gotten ahead of him at the start despite clipping the rear of Max Verstappen\u2019s Red Bull ahead and appearing to push Piastri wide. McLaren\u2019s pit wall decided to take no action during the race in response to the incident, which was also not deemed to be worthy of investigation by the race stewards.<\/p>\n
With McLaren no longer able to be caught in the constructors\u2019 championship, it would follow that the team would allow their drivers to fight each other more aggressively as they both look to secure their first world championship title over the final six rounds of the season. However, Stella has previously insisted that the rules of engagement between their two team mates will not change as a result of the constructors\u2019 title being won.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo \u2013 the approach to the drivers\u2019 title will not change,\u201d Stella recently explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not dependent on the constructors\u2019. The way we go racing is dependent on the racing principles, on the values that we embody as McLaren Racing, and also is a reflection of the fact that we want to protect the unity of the team, which is a foundational condition for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fans on social media have been espescially vocal in criticism of McLaren\u2019s approach to their drivers racing in 2025. F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve also accused McLaren of showing \u201cweakness\u201d in their driver management decisions on Sky\u2019s F1 coverage earlier this season.<\/p>\n
However, Stella says that he is satisfied that his team\u2019s mentality over when to intervene with their drivers racing each other and when to let them race freely is the right one.<\/p>\n
\u201cRacing situations are definitely susceptible to different interpretations,\u201d he said. \u201cSo we are comfortable with the noise, with the comments. We welcome the comments. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s important is that they always remain respectful. Respect is a very important value for McLaren Racing, and I\u2019m sure for everyone. So no surprise around the noise.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think noise around racing situations is natural. Formula 1 is a very popular sport. What\u2019s important for us is that comments are respectful. And when they are respectful, we welcome them, we listen, we take them into account \u2014 even if ultimately what counts for us is not the external noise, but what we make of it internally and how we set ourselves to keep going racing.\u201d<\/p>\n
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