McLaren behind each F1 drivers as Piastri outshines Norris in Azerbaijan

Group principal Andrea Stella says McLaren will proceed to evaluation the association between their drivers after Oscar Piastri underlined his expertise with an exhilarating Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory. McLaren got here into the weekend fielding questions over crew orders after Piastri’s opportunistic first-lap transfer in Monza a fortnight in the past resulted in title-chasing Lando Norris dropping two positions.

They determined the crew would favour Norris for the rest of the season nevertheless it was Piastri on the highest step of the rostrum in Baku because the British driver completed fourth, having began from fifteenth after a catastrophe in qualifying. Piastri’s second F1 win, brilliantly secured over Charles Leclerc due to a daring overtake and dogged defence, really got here partially due to Norris working to assist his teammate keep forward of Crimson Bull’s Sergio Pérez throughout the pit-stop section.

Stella is conscious of the headache that having two such gifted drivers could cause however burdened that the place of favouring Norris shouldn’t be a tough and quick rule. “We’ve got two No 1 drivers successfully and that signifies that we strategy issues initially within the pursuits of the crew,” Stella mentioned.

“The curiosity of the crew is to win the constructors’ championship and to win additionally the drivers’ championship. Lando was in probably the most beneficial place earlier than this race and nonetheless is. I feel now we have proof right this moment that really, curiously it was Lando supporting Oscar. The race may have unfolded in a very totally different means, 50% of Oscar’s victory right this moment is shared with Lando.

“We at all times supposed to evaluation after each race with every driver collectively what was going to be the very best strategy for the following races, we are going to do it and set the plan for Singapore. I feel we lead by ideas. That leaves you area to evaluate each state of affairs. When you have got outlined guidelines they turn into defining.”

Norris managed to chop the hole on chief Verstappen by three factors to 59 regardless of beginning the race 9 locations behind, pulling off an excellent technique earlier than catching and passing the three-time world champion. Piastri is fourth, an additional 32 factors again on Norris forward of subsequent weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, and Stella lauded his drivers’ shows in Baku.

“Once I noticed Piastri going for it [the overtake], my intuition was that he was going to go lengthy [into the run-off area],” Stella added. “The expertise, the precision within the execution from Oscar made the distinction. I used to be shocked however Oscar is at all times stunning us together with his expertise and his capacity. I can’t see any level throughout the 51 laps the place Lando may have achieved a greater job right this moment. Personally whereas I’m at all times optimistic, a mission that will have led us to be fourth was a little bit too optimistic.”

For the crew it was a landmark day as they moved forward of Crimson Bull, who’ve dominated the game for the final two seasons, to the highest of the constructors’ championship for the primary time since 2014.

“We don’t must overlook that initially of 2023 we have been final and now we lead,” Stella added. “That may be a big milestone. However we don’t have a look at the standings, we simply concentrate on executing at each single occasion. The automotive shouldn’t be but quick sufficient to create boring races. That’s not within the pursuits of F1 however is the best way wherein we need to go racing.”