McLaren’s Team Order Tension: Stella Admits Need for Clarity After Hungarian GP Drama

McLaren addresses feedback on ambiguous team directive given to Lando Norris

"Lando, especially given his advantageous stance, will require backing from Oscar and the entire team."

McLaren Formula 1 team leader Andrea Stella has acknowledged that the team must improve their communication with their drivers following a controversy over team orders at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

At the Hungaroring, McLaren secured a dominant first and second place, with Oscar Piastri finishing ahead of Lando Norris.

In an effort to stay ahead of Lewis Hamilton, McLaren opted to have Norris pit before Piastri, securing an important lead in the race for him.

Consequently, Piastri found himself in the runner-up position, not at the forefront of the race, following his pit stop after Norris.

Norris extended his lead to approximately six seconds ahead of Piastri, even though McLaren had advised him to reduce his speed and give up the leading position.

Norris eventually complied with the team's instructions, but the entire debacle, instigated by McLaren, diminished the shine of Piastri's first victory.

In a post-race conversation with Sky, 2016 Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg offered some guidance to Stella and the McLaren team.

Rosberg stated: “I emphatically suggest that to effectively handle this internal competition between two drivers, clarity and decisiveness are crucial. He mentioned, ‘when convenient for you, Lando’.

"This significantly broadens the options for a driver, creating an ambiguous situation. Therefore, my firm advice is for there to be explicit and decisive guidance from the pitwall to the drivers to avoid a host of problems. I say this based on my own experience."

Stella replied, "I accept your suggestion. It will be put to effective use."

Stella emphasized the importance of collaboration, highlighting that Norris will require Piastri's support in his quest to surpass Max Verstappen in this year's championship.

"He believes there were multiple communications from Will, not just one. There's a specific racing strategy they adhere to with their drivers and team, emphasizing the collective journey they're on," he clarified.

"None of us – whether it's the team, Lando, or Oscar – can operate in isolation. This was the core idea we talked about on Sunday morning. It's essential to constantly remind the drivers of this philosophy, which is the reason we hold these meetings every week. We're truly thrilled about the way our drivers are embracing and contributing to McLaren's direction, which is remarkable. To me, that's the standout story today."

We can delve deeper into the topic of Lando and Oscar, however, the key takeaway is the existence of a first and second position in both the qualifying rounds and the actual race, which is astounding. It's unheard of for a race driver in the lead to suggest swapping places willingly; it goes against a racer's instinct. If Lando had proposed such a thing, it would be worrying. This is the reason we had to revisit our fundamental rules.

"To remain contenders in the race for the championship, especially for Lando who holds a more advantageous stance, it's crucial for him to have the backing of Oscar and the entire team. This is our strategy for advancing."

McLaren is currently trailing Red Bull by 51 points in the Formula 1 constructors' standings, with the Belgian Grand Prix set to take place next weekend.

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