McLaren Formula 1 boss Andrea Stella has been probed on the “repercussions” that will be imposed on Lando Norris due to his clash with Oscar Piastri in Singapore.
Norris and Piastri banging wheels on the opening lap as the Briton passed his team-mate cast a shadow over McLaren’s crowning as Constructors’ Champions again.
Stella disclosed that a review into the collision would take place, which was held as the drivers celebrated the title win with the entire team at McLaren’s Woking base.
The discussion ended with McLaren holding Norris accountable, an outcome that he broke to media including Motorsport Week prior to this weekend’s race in Austin.
“The conversations after Singapore have been very positive, very constructive,” Stella told F1.com.
“We had a situation in which there was contact between our cars so this required to be reviewed under the racing framework that we use to go racing together as a team, with Lando and Oscar.
“It is a framework that Lando, Oscar and the team have put together and is ultimately my responsibility and Zak’s [Brown, McLaren CEO] responsibility to make sure it is applied consistently during the season.
“We reviewed the case, we identified that Lando was responsible for the contact because he was a little long in corner 3, touched [Max] Verstappen and then he oversteered onto Oscar.
“Obviously there was no malice in this move, but both drivers accepted the review and we now head into the rest of the season like after Canada, even more united and stronger as a team.”
What are the consequences Norris will face?
Norris, who is 22 points behind Piastri, caused intrigue when he divulged there will be consequences that will have an impact on him across the remaining six rounds.
But like Norris, Stella would not be drawn on what those repercussions are and how detrimental it will be to the Briton’s bid to overhaul his team-mate to grab the title.
“The repercussions or consequences, they are part of our framework,” the Italian explained.
“This is something that both drivers were keen to have in the racing framework.
“For me, it was part of the review of leading the review, to discuss this without drivers.
“They’ve been accepted and we are now ready to focus on maximising the performance of the car and find again our winning ways.”
McLaren aiming to see out elusive title double
McLaren’s stance has been consistent when it comes to not discounting the threat that Verstappen poses to the team’s quest to win an elusive championship double.
Stella has highlighted that the Woking-based squad will be determined to leave no stone unturned as it endeavours to avoid external factors deciding the Drivers’ title.
“We hope that as a team we will be able from a reliability point of view, from an operational point of view to offer Lando and Oscar the best opportunity for the quest to be entirely in their hands – dependent on their talent, on their race craft, on their determination, on how much they will be able to express the best of themselves in this final six races,” he said.
“We want to make sure that we offer to Lando and Oscar a fast enough car to keep Verstappen under control and make sure he doesn’t become too much of a threat.
“For me what’s important is that all this happens within the fairness, the sportsmanship, all the values that characterise the way in which we go racing at McLaren and then may the best win.”
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