F1 News
McLaren soften the blow on Norris: 'We were enjoying the quest'
McLaren boss Andrea Stella has softened the blow on Lando Norris and summarised his title challenge as a quest the team enjoyed. He reiterated how his World Championship bid was "secondary" to the Constructors' Championship fight with Red Bull and Ferrari.
McLaren has had the best car in Formula 1 since the Miami Grand Prix. They have moved to the top of the World Championship in the Constructors', but the same can't be said about the drivers' Championship. The gap increased by 18 points at the Brazilian Grand Prix, all but mathmatically ending Lando Norris' hopes of a first World title. Stella reassed after the event.
"In terms of the Constructors Championship, I don't think it changes anything because it was always our priority. Even when there was a call to be made to support one driver or the other, it was always secondary to actually maximising the Constructors Championship," Stella revealed after the race in Brazil.
No pressure on Norris
"When it comes to the Drivers' Championship, I don't think for Lando there was any particular pressure. To be honest, we were enjoying this quest. Sometimes from outside, you may come across like there was an error there. Maybe it's just when you lock the tyres with a car like we had today, I'm not looking at the driver, I'm looking at why the car keeps locking the front tyres in conditions like this.
"Mathematically we are still in the championship. We will now try to win the coming races. The last two venues [Qatar and Abu Dhabi] should be quite good. Vegas will be potentially more of a Ferrari track, we will see. But all to play for and the Constructors Championship remains and has always been our priority," the McLaren team boss concluded.
This article has been created in collaboration with Tim Kraaij