McLaren’s Andrea Stella Defends Team Orders at Italian GP, Calls Decision Rooted in “Values and Principles”
Monza, Sept 8 (TTP): McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has defended the controversial call that saw Oscar Piastri instructed to let Lando Norris through during the Italian Grand Prix, insisting the decision was not influenced by past incidents but grounded in the team’s “values and principles.”
McLaren’s Pit Stop Sequence Sets Up Tense Situation
The drama unfolded at Monza as Norris and Piastri ran in second and third place for much of Sunday’s race, briefly leading a 1-2 formation when Red Bull’s Max Verstappen pitted under an alternate strategy.
McLaren opted to pit Piastri on Lap 45, followed by Norris a lap later. However, a slow pit stop for Norris saw him rejoin behind his teammate, a blow to his pursuit of Verstappen in the drivers’ standings.
To restore what McLaren deemed “order,” the team issued an instruction for Piastri to yield position to Norris. The Briton reclaimed second place and held it until the chequered flag, trimming Piastri’s championship lead from 34 points to 31.
Stella: “It Was About Fairness”
Explaining the decision to F1 TV, Stella was clear that the move should not be linked to recent controversies.
“Let me start by saying that the decision we made today doesn’t have [anything] to do with what happened in the Netherlands – it’s completely independent of the DNF that the team caused for Lando,” Stella said. “This is a completely separate situation and we take one race at a time.”
He elaborated that the sequence of pit stops shaped the call:
“Today, when we started the pit stop sequencing, we started the sequencing pitting Oscar first but with the clear intent that we would have not swapped the positions. Unfortunately, this compounded with the fact that we had a slow pit stop [for Norris]. Because we had the sequence with Oscar first and then the slow pit stop, we thought that the fair thing to do was to go back to the positions that we had before the pit stops. I’m sure Oscar will be very comfortable with this; he already was comfortable during the race.”
“Values and Principles” Over Strategy Sheets
For Stella, the decision was less about data and more about the team’s ethos.
“We showed again the values and the principles we have at McLaren,” he said. “We just stick and refer to the principles and the approach that we have in the way we go racing. I think it’s alright.”
When asked about the radio messages referencing the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, where a similar situation unfolded in reverse, Stella downplayed the link.
“Of course, we had Hungary, but after Hungary we had so many conversations, so much alignment with each other as to how we go racing, so I don’t think we need to go so far back,” he explained.
Balancing Championship Goals and Team Unity
The incident has sparked debate among fans and pundits, with some viewing the team orders as necessary to protect Norris’ title ambitions, while others argue that Piastri was unfairly denied a podium finish earned on track.
McLaren’s approach, however, appears focused on consistency and clarity of principles to avoid internal conflict. By restoring the running order prior to the pit stops, Stella emphasized fairness to both drivers, suggesting that alignment within the team is more valuable in the long term than momentary gains.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
McLaren’s handling of the Italian Grand Prix highlights the delicate balance between individual glory and collective values in Formula 1. While team orders often draw criticism, Stella’s insistence that the call was based on fairness rather than favoritism may help prevent tensions between Norris and Piastri from escalating.
As the championship battle heats up, McLaren’s ability to maintain unity and uphold its principles could prove decisive—not just in the title fight, but in shaping the team’s culture for seasons to come.