Andrea Stella says it “would not be a good approach” for McLaren to prioritise Lando Norris as No 1 driver regardless of the Briton battling Max Verstappen for the world championship title.
Norris’ victory at Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix minimize Verstappen’s lead within the Drivers’ Championship to simply 70 factors with the Dutchman now winless in his final 5 races in 2024.
Nevertheless, McLaren staff principal Stella, talking on Thursday, earlier than the occasion in Zandvoort, insists Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri will probably be handled equally for now.
Piastri – fourth within the championship, 46 factors behind Norris – claimed his first GP victory in Hungary in July when McLaren insisted he take the win forward of Norris, who initially ignored staff orders at hand first place again to Piastri earlier than finally cooperating.
McLaren chief government Zak Brown stated afterwards that deciding whether or not to put in a No 1 driver was in the end as much as Stella, however the Italian advised reporters final week: “I think when it comes to these conversations about being the No 1, I don’t think that’s a good way of approaching racing. We’d rather approach racing from fairness, integrity, and then see what come from this kind of approach.”
‘No one in McLaren goes their very own approach’
Brown continued: “For Lando to realistically be in situation to chase the World Championship, he must hold acting at a really excessive stage. He must hold being quick. You then acquire your ranks on observe.
“And should you acquire your ranks on observe by being quick, by being aggressive, then we are going to consider, at all times led by integrity and equity, whether or not on some events we want the staff to take a sure course in a 50-50 choice.
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Full race highlights from the Dutch Grand Prix as Norris completed forward of Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc
“Or if we want to have a conversation with Oscar and say, ‘Oscar, would you be available to do this to support Lando chasing the World Championship?’ But it will always have to be a conversation before the race.
“All of us ought to lend a hand as a result of in the end, we chase and we’re within the quest for a Drivers’ Championship as a staff. There’s no one that goes his personal approach after which the others must comply with. In order that’s our type.
“I don’t think it can be necessarily and simply summarised in like, we elect a No 1, and then we work accordingly. I would like to keep this more articulated as a team, and then be more on a case-by-case situation.
Piastri: We might both be in Championship fight
Piastri, also speaking before the Dutch Grand Prix, said he was not expecting to be asked to aid Norris’ title pursuit, saying: “No, I do not suppose so. The primary goal is to win the Constructors’ Championship.
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McLaren’s Oscar Piastri blamed a poor begin and being caught behind vehicles for almost all of the Dutch GP for simply lacking out on the rostrum
“I think naturally, if we’re closing the gap in the constructors’, there’s probably a good chance that we’re both closing it in the Drivers’ [Championship] as well.
“I am not that far behind Lando within the standings both, so in fact if the decision comes later within the 12 months and it is a sensible shot, then I am going to do my half for the staff.
“However I feel in the mean time, the hole is fairly huge for each of us so we’ll concentrate on simply attempting to do the perfect job that we will each week and see the place we find yourself a bit later within the 12 months.
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Full race highlights from the Dutch Grand Prix as Norris completed forward of Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc
“I think for me the biggest thing is just trying to maximise every weekend. That gives the team the most opportunities for the Constructors’, that gives me the most opportunities for whatever occurs in the drivers’ standings.
“If there’s a possibility for myself to win the drivers’ standings, then I am going to attempt my finest to verify I am there.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Italian GP schedule
Thursday August 29
2pm: Drivers’ Press Conference
Friday August 30
8.30am: F3 Practice
9.55am: F2 Practice
12pm: Italian GP Practice One (session starts 12.30am)
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.45pm: Italian GP Practice Two (session starts 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday August 31
8.25am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Italian GP Practice Three (session starts 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Italian GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: ITALIAN GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday September 1
7:30am: F3 Feature Race
9am: F2 Feature Race
11am: Porsche Supercup
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Italian GP build-up
2pm: The ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Italian GP reaction
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
The 2024 Formula 1 season continues with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime
