Workforce principal Andrea Stella expressed satisfaction in how McLaren confirmed power in adversity after what he described as an “pointless” transfer from Max Verstappen at first of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Verstappen tried to overhaul Oscar Piastri on the within of Flip 1 however understeered into the McLaren and spun the Australian round, leaving him in the back of the sphere. That meant what had been a one-two beginning order for McLaren out of the blue grew to become a race that was depending on Lando Norris successful to safe the constructors’ championship, and he duly did so in what a proud Stella described as his workforce rising to the event.
“The primary thought I had after checking nook one is that it felt pointless,” Stella mentioned. “When you will have groups combating for the championship, it’s the head — it’s the time to reap the efforts of a season — [and] that felt just a little pointless.
“Generally adversities provide the alternative to point out your strengths and I believe that’s precisely what occurred. To begin with as a result of Oscar by no means gave up and he got here again to scoring some extent that would have been crucial. If not the 2 factors that would have been decisive in case of a swap between Carlos [Sainz] and Lando.
“Lando confirmed his strengths, delivering an ideal weekend and an ideal race when all of the strain was on him and he stayed very calm on the radio. He thought-about some troublesome choices that we gave him like once we mentioned would you pit in case of security automobile or not for a brand new set. So, I believe we noticed Lando at his greatest and his greatest is simply extremely aggressive. I can’t wait to see Lando and Oscar sooner or later with a aggressive automobile proper from race one.
“For me if something the chance to point out the strengths was within the final pit cease. The entire season was within the final pit cease. An issue on the pit cease and we might have misplaced the place to Carlos and we might have misplaced the championship. The blokes delivered what I believe is among the greatest pit stops of the season, confirming the trajectory which was not solely automobile efficiency however was the general maturity, mentality, emotional resilience of the complete workforce.
“So, all this one way or the other was given the chance to be proven because of the accident in nook one. However hopefully sooner or later we don’t want adversities — we are able to simply have a quicker automobile and simply be safer and never being in a decisive race on the final races of the season.”
Lando Norris salutes his workforce on the pit wall on the finish of the Abu Dhabi GP. Zak Mauger/Motorsport Photos
The McLaren workforce principal admits he was nervous within the closing levels understanding {that a} security automobile might have left Norris underneath risk from second-placed Sainz, which is why there was a lot emphasis additionally positioned on Piastri’s restoration by the sphere.
“We had been conscious and that’s why we had been pushing very onerous with Oscar to be sure that we might get P9 as a result of the 2 factors would have been elementary.
“We had been undoubtedly nervous as a result of not solely the again markers had been an issue however the security automobile would have been an issue as a result of Carlos might have completed the other of what we do. So, if we don’t pit, he might have gone on new tires and it will have been an issue. If we had pitted, he would have taken the lead and we should always have overtaken him.
“So, we had been undoubtedly nervous due to this taking place, not a lot in regards to the again markers. It’s anticipated that you simply lose a little bit of grip behind the again markers however this isn’t a observe the place there’s numerous area to overhaul again markers.
“At that stage Lando had constructed a superb hole to Carlos — which was good to see by the best way, as a result of within the first stint I don’t suppose there was a lot to select when it comes to efficiency between Ferrari and McLaren. However on the tougher compounds, as has usually occurred this season, Lando was the quickest automobile on observe and this meant that we had a security buffer.”
