McLaren boss Andrea Stella has dismissed the notion that having both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris compete for the Formula 1 championship is less comfortable for him.
The Woking-based squad has been the class of the field so far, leading the Constructors’ Championship by 268 points from Ferrari.
Between them, Piastri and Norris have won all but three of the 13 races contested so far, with the Australian leading the Drivers’ title by 16 points.
The title will more than likely be claimed by either man, echoing past instances of McLaren driver pairings fighting it out for supremacy, such as Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
There have been several close shaves across the year, too, such as their fraught battle in Austria, which followed the almost-inevitable clash that took place in Canada.
When asked if it would be more comfortable for him if one driver had a clear advantage over the other, Stella said he is in the wrong game if he shied away from discomfort.
“If I wanted to be comfortable, then I’m not doing the right job,” he told media including Motorsport Week in Belgium. “I’m not really interested in being comfortable.
“I’m interested in putting McLaren in the best possible position to succeed, which means competing for the Constructors’ World Championship, and if possible, making sure that the Drivers’ World Championship is a matter between the two drivers of the McLaren Formula 1 team.”
McLaren intratream battle puts Stella in ‘privileged position’
Stella stated that whilst Piastri and Norris’ on-track battles may cause a few nervy moments on the McLaren pit wall, he acknowledged that allowing them to race each other is giving them a chance to showcase their abilities.
The Italian added that it was putting the team in a “privileged” position to have two prodigious talents driving the MCL39.
“And in addition to that, even if this doesn’t make my life or Zak’s life any simpler, we are here also to go racing in a certain way, which is open, which may give our drivers the opportunity to express their talent, their aspiration, their quality, their constant development,” he added.
“So that’s what we are here for, and we are very privileged to be in this position, and also we are privileged, I think, that we are doing that not only with the team we have, but with Oscar and Lando, who are two great drivers, but above all, two great individuals.”
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