McLaren will not alter its approach to team orders after reviewing the decisions which prompted criticism from some at the Italian Grand Prix.
Oscar Piastri obeyed an instruction to hand second place to his team mate in the closing stages of the race. McLaren gave the order after taking the unusual decision to pit Piastri before his team mate, who he was running behind.
When Lando Norris lost time due to a slow pit stop, which dropped him behind Piastri, McLaren decided to swap the running order. Piastri complied after questioning the call on his radio.
Stella confirmed the team reviewed their handling of the race and concluded it was in line with their philosophy of treating both drivers equally in their pursuit of the championship.
“Like after every race weekend, we reviewed how we operate, the decisions we make, the driving and so on,” he explained. “We did the same after Monza, and we [can] confirm that the way we operated is what we intended [and] is what we can confirm for the future.
“So while we remain open and attentive to anything that happens, I think that situation gave us a possibility to confirm our approach.”
The decision proved divisive among fans and led to some criticism of the team. Stella said he was not surprised by the negative reaction from some.
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“I think noise around racing situations is natural,” he said. “Formula 1 is a very popular sport. What’s important for us is that comments are respectful.
“When they are respectful, we welcome them, we listen, we take them into account — even if ultimately what counts for us is not the external noise, but what we make of it internally and how we set ourselves to keep going racing.”
McLaren can clinch the constructors’ championship at this weekend’s race. Stella has consistently said winning the title would not lead them to alter how they manage their drivers.
“The way we go racing is dependent on the racing principles, on the values that we embody as McLaren Racing, and also is a reflection of the fact that we want to protect the unity of the team, which is a foundational condition for the future,” he explained.
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