McLaren Staff Principal Andrea Stella admits he’s “probably not fascinated with being comfy” when managing the title battle between drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris after a 1-2 within the Belgian Grand Prix, including that the pair are working on the stage of earlier World Champions.
The pair locked out the entrance row for Sunday’s race at Spa-Francorchamps, with Piastri popping out on high after overtaking polesitter Norris on the long term to Les Combes as soon as racing bought underway after a rain delay and Security Automotive begin.
Norris opted for the laborious compound of tyre compared to Piastri on mediums when the pair made their solely pit stops, and though the Briton closed a spot of 9.1s to only over 3s, Piastri took his sixth win of the marketing campaign and prolonged his factors margin to 16 factors.
“There may be very, little or no between our two drivers, and it is because the 2 drivers are racing at a really, very excessive stage,” stated Stella post-race, with Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari 20s adrift of Piastri on the chequered flag in third.
“We’re fortunate at McLaren to have two drivers that deservedly are preventing for the World Championship. I believe the distinction will probably be made by the accuracy, the precision, the standard of the execution. We noticed in Silverstone that a problem, a sporting challenge for Oscar through the Security Automotive begin and the ensuing penalty value him the race.
“And by some means right here, we noticed that by some means associated to the circuit attribute like we stated earlier than, it could have at all times been very tough for Lando to maintain the place beginning first on the Security Automotive restart.”
He added: “Like I stated earlier than, we now have two drivers, which to the requirements that even myself in my profession I have been near, driving with a number of world champions [including Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen]. I believe Lando and Oscar are working at that stage, on the stage of deservedly being in rivalry for the Drivers’ World Championship.”
After shedding the lead, Norris complained of derating over the radio with Stella confirming that “there was a slight anomaly” with the battery that impacted each vehicles however that “it is very tough for the automobile that leads the pack to really arrive first in Flip 5”.
Relating to the technique, Stella prompt it was Norris’ determination to not double stack behind Piastri and in addition his alternative to make use of the laborious rubber within the hopes of getting a tyre benefit later within the race.
“The selection was open. Lando had a few lock-ups in Flip 1 and in addition just a little oversteering in Flip 9 that value him time,” stated Stella.
“I believe this total prevented us from having an attention-grabbing battle probably on the finish, however in equity, even Oscar had a few occasions in Flip 1 just a little little bit of a time loss.
“It’s extremely tough once you push a lot in these situations, it is very tough to at all times drive throughout the restrict of the grip.”
