Stella warns Norris and Piastri should they go against the team's orders
F1 News
Last year it was a big topic in Formula 1: McLaren's papaya rules. While Lando Norris made his fair share of mistakes which prompted Max Verstappen to edge him out in the Drivers' championship, McLaren's approach to their drivers' dynamics certainly didn't help the Briton's title bid. However, according to McLaren's team principal, Andrea Stella, the team will maintain its philosophy as they head into the 2025 season.
Of course, everyone who follows F1 was a first-hand witness to the onboard radio meltdown the team experienced during the Hungarian Grand Prix, when Norris was incaesantly ordered to let Piastri through by his race engineer, William Joseph. This, while Norris was the one out of the two who had the best chances of catching Verstappen in the standings.
Then, in Monza, the Australian went for a daring and exceptional move around the outside of his British teammate in the second variante to claim the lead of the Italian Grand Prix, causing Norris to go from P1 to P3 behind the eventual race winner, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. In the end, with Red Bull Racing coming alive in the home stretch of the season, and Norris making the odd mistake here and there, (like in Azerbaijan and Brazil for instance), the title went Verstappen's way.
McLaren drivers will go racing in 2025 basing on 2024 principles
"We reviewed all the situations in which there was a proximity between the two drivers, and I was quite impressed by how well they behaved. We take some learning from last year, but already I think that was positive in terms of how we interacted and acted together as a team," said team principal, Stella, during the MCL39's launch.
Adding that: "The main aspect is that both drivers start the season with equal opportunities, and our fundamentals are based on the racing principles that we already used last year," suggesting that the team will have another go at the 'papaya rules' in 2025 to try and keep their drivers' dynamics in check as they head off into a season that might see the McLaren pair fight each other for the coveted crown.
Stella warns Norris and Piastri should they go against the team's philosophy
"It's important to say that the racing principles are representative not only of what the team believes in terms of how we go racing, but also what the drivers believe, because if a driver is not fully into these principles, then that's not the right driver for McLaren," said Stella issuing a veiled warning to his driver pairing.
"I really look forward to having this kind of challenge. It means that we are doing well as a team, it means that the two drivers are doing well as drivers, and it means that the car is actually competitive, and we did a good job from a technical and racing point of view," concluded the Italian team boss.
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