Stella wants to compete for the world title with Norris: 'It is possible'

Will McLaren adjust papaya rules?

During the Italian Grand Prix, the papaya rules were mentioned over the team radio. It is McLaren's version of team orders and Stella demands a review into the situation.

"We will have to review together with the drivers, look at the videos, understand their point of view, and then we will assess together whether they are fully compliant or not. We will take the learning, if there is any learning that we need to take, and then we will adjust the papaya rules such that they allow us to pursue, in the best possible manner, both the Constructor's Championship and the Drivers' Championship," Stella said.

"Because we have to be now in condition to acknowledge that not only the Constructor's Championship is possible, but even from a driver's point of view, with the performance we have at the moment in the car and some of the struggle that we see with Red Bull, it is definitely possible. So if we can achieve both as a team, we need to put the team in condition, and Lando in condition, to pursue both championships."

Stella then put the Italian Grand Prix situation in as an example of why having a number one doesn't work in reality. "I think number one kind of works well as a headline, but I'm not sure it works very well in the real world in terms of what does it mean. For instance, let's say, hypothetically, that we conclude that in corner four Lando just braked too early and Oscar kind of naturally had the possibility to take the lead. Then what does it mean if you are number one? You kind of swap the lap after. It's just very difficult to implement this definition in the real world," he added when replying to GPblog.

"I think it's better to keep working as a team. Get the opinion of both drivers, and then work together to, like I say, try and pursue this objective in both championships. Because it now looks like the driver's championship is definitely a possibility. We were a little cautious even before Monza, but I think now we see that McLaren can compete in circuits where last year we were not competitive. So I think it's a very competitive package overall, and this could be a very important weapon for Lando in particular in the quest for the championship," Stella concluded.