Workforce principal Andrea Stella expressed delight in how McLaren confirmed energy in adversity after what he described as an “pointless” transfer from Max Verstappen at the beginning of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Verstappen tried to overhaul Oscar Piastri on the within of Flip 1 however understeered into the McLaren and spun the Australian round, leaving him behind the sphere. That meant what had been a one-two beginning order for McLaren immediately grew to become a race that was depending on Lando Norris profitable to safe the constructors’ championship, and he duly did so in what a proud Stella described as his staff rising to the event.
“The primary thought I had after checking nook one is that it felt pointless,” Stella mentioned. “When you’ve got groups preventing for the championship, it’s the top — it’s the time to reap the efforts of a season — [and] that felt just a little pointless.
“Typically adversities provide the alternative to indicate your strengths and I believe that’s precisely what occurred. Initially as a result of Oscar by no means gave up and he got here again to scoring a degree that would have been crucial. If not the 2 factors that would have been decisive in case of a swap between Carlos [Sainz] and Lando.
“Lando confirmed his strengths, delivering an ideal weekend and an ideal race when all of the stress was on him and he stayed very calm on the radio. He thought of some tough choices that we gave him like after we mentioned would you pit in case of security automotive or not for a brand new set. So, I believe we noticed Lando at his greatest and his greatest is simply extremely aggressive. I can’t wait to see Lando and Oscar sooner or later with a aggressive automotive proper from race one.
“For me if something the chance to indicate the strengths was within the final pit cease. The entire season was within the final pit cease. An issue on the pit cease and we might have misplaced the place to Carlos and we might have misplaced the championship. The fellows delivered what I believe is without doubt one of the greatest pit stops of the season, confirming the trajectory which was not solely automotive efficiency however was the general maturity, mentality, emotional resilience of your entire staff.
“So, all this one way or the other was given the chance to be proven because of the accident in nook one. However hopefully sooner or later we don’t want adversities — we are able to simply have a quicker automotive and simply be safer and never being in a decisive race on the final races of the season.”
Lando Norris salutes his staff on the pit wall on the finish of the Abu Dhabi GP. Zak Mauger/Motorsport Photographs
The McLaren staff principal admits he was nervous within the closing levels realizing {that a} security automotive might have left Norris beneath risk from second-placed Sainz, which is why there was a lot emphasis additionally positioned on Piastri’s restoration by means of the sphere.
“We had been conscious and that’s why we had been pushing very exhausting with Oscar to guarantee that we might get P9 as a result of the 2 factors would have been elementary.
“We had been positively nervous as a result of not solely the again markers had been an issue however the security automotive would have been an issue as a result of Carlos might have accomplished the alternative of what we do. So, if we don’t pit, he might have gone on new tires and it could have been an issue. If we had pitted, he would have taken the lead and we must always have overtaken him.
“So, we had been positively nervous due to this occurring, not a lot concerning the again markers. It’s anticipated that you just lose a little bit of grip behind the again markers however this isn’t a observe the place there’s lots of house to overhaul again markers.
“At that stage Lando had constructed a superb hole to Carlos — which was good to see by the best way, as a result of within the first stint I don’t suppose there was a lot to select when it comes to efficiency between Ferrari and McLaren. However on the more durable compounds, as has usually occurred this season, Lando was the quickest automotive on observe and this meant that we had a security buffer.”
