Andrea Stella says it “wouldn’t be a good approach” for McLaren to prioritize Lando Norris as No.1 driver despite the Briton battling Max Verstappen for the world title.
Norris’ victory at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday reduced Verstappen’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship to just 70 points, and the Dutchman is now winless in the last five races of 2024.
However, the head of the McLaren team Stella, said on Friday, before the event in Zandvoort, stressed Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri will be considered equal for now.
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Watch the moment Norris claimed victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, beating Verstappen by more than 20 seconds
Piastri – fourth in the championship, 46 points behind Norris – claimed his first GP win in Hungary in July when McLaren insisted he won ahead of Norris, who initially ignored the team’s orders to hand first place back to Piastri before co-operating.
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown later said the decision to install the No. 1 driver was ultimately up to Stella, but the Italian told reporters last week: “I think when we talk about being No. 1, I don’t think it’s a good way to approach the race, we prefer to approach the race from fairness, integrity, and then see what happens from this approach.
‘Nobody at McLaren runs alone’
Brown continued: “For Lando to realistically reach the World Championship, he has to continue to perform at a very high level. He has to continue to be fast. Then you get the rankings on the track.
“And if you get ranked quickly, competitively, then we will evaluate, always led by integrity and fairness, that on some occasions we need the team to take a certain direction in a 50-50 decision.
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Full race highlights from the Dutch Grand Prix as Norris finished ahead of Ferrari’s Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
“Or if we wanted to talk to Oscar and say, ‘Oscar, would you be available to do this to support Lando’s pursuit of the World Championship?’ But it should definitely be a pre-race conversation.
“We all have to agree because in the end, we are chasing and we are striving for the Drivers’ Championship as a team. No one follows his own path and others have to follow. That is our style.
“I don’t think it can be necessary and just a summary like, we choose No. 1, and then we can match. I like to make it more articulated as a team, and then it becomes more in the case-by- case situation.
Piastri: We might be in the Championship fight
Piastri, also speaking ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, said he did not expect to be asked to help Norris to the title, saying: âNo, I don’t think so, the first target is to win the Constructors’ championship.
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McLaren’s Oscar Piastri blamed a poor start and being stuck at the back of the car for the majority of the Dutch GP as he just missed out on the podium.
“I think naturally, if we close the gap in the constructors, there’s a good chance we’ll also close it in the Drivers (championship).
“I’m not far behind Lando in the standings either, so of course if the call comes at the end of the year and it’s a realistic shot, then I’ll do my part for the team.
âBut I think right now, the gap is big enough for us, so we’re going to focus on just trying to do the best job we can every week and see where we end up this year.
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Full race highlights from the Dutch Grand Prix as Norris finished ahead of Ferrari’s Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
“I think the biggest thing is just trying to make the most of it every weekend. That gives the team the most opportunity for the Constructors, that gives the most opportunity for whatever happens in the driver’s standings.
“If there’s a chance for me to win the driver’s standings, I’ll try my best to make sure I’m there.”
Italian GP schedule live Sky Sports F1
Thursday, August 29
2pm: Driver Press Conference
Friday, August 30
8.30: Exercise F3
9.55am: Exercise F2
12:00: Italian GP Practice (session starts at 12:30)
13.55: Qualifying F3
14.50: Qualifying F2
15.45: Italian GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
17.15: F1 event
Saturday August 31st
8.25: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Italian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
13.10: F2 Sprint
14.15: Italian GP Qualification
3pm: ITALIAN GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted’s Qualification Notebook
Sunday September 1st
07:30: F3 Feature Race
9am: F2 Feature Race
11am: Porsche Supercup
12:30: Grand Prix Sunday: Italian GP build-up
2pm: ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
16:00: Checkered 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 every F1 race and more with Sports Month Membership NOW. No contract, cancel anytime
