McLaren boss Andrea Stella has praised both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for their attitude, as the Formula 1 champions look to uphold their “let them race concept.”
The Woking-based squad was once again at the centre of a contentious intra-team incident involving Norris and Piastri at last week’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Norris muscled his way past his team-mate with enough aggression to force the Australian wide, prompting a furious tirade over the radio from the title leader.
The incident somewhat overshadowed the team’s retention of the Constructors’ title, secured with Norris’ third place at the Marina Bay Circuit.
With Norris and Piastri’s post-race comments contrasting, Stella was quick to point out that McLaren’s ‘team first’ mentality is a hard one to maintain with harmony.
“You know, every time we start our conversations with the drivers we always remind ourselves, as a premise, this is hard because this is the only matter in which, when you race together as a team, actually, you can’t have exactly the same interest for the two drivers because they want to pursue their aspiration,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“And this is a foundational principle of the way we go racing at McLaren, we want to protect this ‘let them race’ concept.”
McLaren lavishes praise on Norris and Piastri
It would be fair to suggest that McLaren’s adoption of allowing its drivers to race but with the application of giving neither man preferential treatment, could make a rod for its own back.
Stella is all too aware of this, but said that his driver’s attitude towards this mentality has made its approach a successful one.
“We know that as soon as you adopt this concept, you face difficulties,” he continued.
“And we remind ourselves, but it’s within this awareness, self-consciousness, in a way, that then we develop our conversation.
“And you need to be thorough and you need to have integrity in approaching that.
“I’m very proud of the way Lando and Oscar have been part of the process so far because if we have been able to navigate through this, let’s say, difficult part of going racing, it’s because we have Lando and Oscar on board.
“They’ve been just great individuals, just great contributors and that’s why it’s been successful so far.
“And definitely we’ll work hard to make sure this is true for the remainder of the season and the years ahead in which we will keep going racing with Lando and Oscar.”
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