McLaren’s transfer into the lead of the constructors’ championship is a large milestone for the staff, however Andrea Stella doesn’t need it to obtain an excessive amount of consideration.
Crimson Bull’s early-season benefit has been persistently decreased since McLaren upgraded its automotive on the Miami Grand Prix, and a primary and fourth locations at Baku lifted the staff to the highest of the standings for the primary time in over a decade. It marks a outstanding turnaround from a troublesome begin to final season, however Stella stated that whereas the importance must be acknowledged, there will be no room for complacency.
“If I take a look at it for a second as a milestone then it’s undoubtedly big, as a result of we don’t need to overlook in the beginning of 2023 we have been final when began the season and now we lead the classification,” Stella stated. “That’s an enormous milestone that has been doable due to the nice work, laborious work and high quality of labor of the entire staff, the assist from our shareholders, the assist from our companions, the followers, you obtain this since you obtain it collectively.
“On the similar time – which is my manner of going racing, and the best way that I would love the staff to go racing – this second is already over. We don’t take a look at the classification, we simply take a look at executing at each single occasion, delivering the upgrades that we nonetheless plan to take to a number of the future races, as a result of the automotive remains to be not quick sufficient to create some boring races – which isn’t within the curiosity of Formulation 1, however undoubtedly the best way that we need to go racing.
“So we have now work to do when it comes to making the automotive quicker and we have to stay humble, maintain our ft on the bottom, as a result of we see that in equity there’s not a lot to select in any respect between the 4 high groups.
“I typically hear that McLaren is the most effective automotive, however this isn’t within the numbers. I feel within the numbers McLaren is the most effective automotive at some sorts of circuit, like Barcelona, Hungary, Zandvoort, for good technical causes. However (at Baku) I don’t assume McLaren loved any benefit over Ferrari, and I feel not even over Crimson Bull.
“Even in Monza, Mercedes was within the 0.086 seconds between P2 and P6, so it’s simply very, very balanced. So I feel the execution by the drivers and by the staff is what makes the distinction.”
Oscar Piastri received in Baku with Lando Norris fourth, however the latter is forward within the drivers’ championship, and McLaren just lately stated it is going to again him the place essential to try to catch Max Verstappen. Stella stated that is still the plan, however pointed to Norris’ function in holding up Sergio Perez in Sunday’s race as proof it is going to nonetheless ask each drivers to prioritize the staff.
“We now have two primary drivers, successfully,” he stated. “Having two primary drivers imply we method issues to begin with within the curiosity of the staff. The curiosity of the staff is to win the constructors’ championship and in addition the drivers’ championship.
“Lando was in probably the most favorable place. I feel he nonetheless is in probably the most favorable place, so naturally we’d have supported Lando. However I feel we have now proof [from Baku] that really, curiously, it was Lando supporting Oscar and enabling Oscar’s victory due to driving for the staff and driving to assist his teammate.
“So that is still our method and we at all times supposed to overview after each occasion with every driver, with the drivers collectively, what’s going to be the most effective method for the following races. We are going to do this and set the plan for Singapore.”
