Workforce principal Andrea Stella expressed satisfaction in how McLaren confirmed energy in adversity after what he described as an “pointless” transfer from Max Verstappen firstly 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 behind the sector. That meant what had been a one-two beginning order for McLaren out of the blue turned a race that was depending on Lando Norris profitable to safe the constructors’ championship, and he duly did so in what a proud Stella described as his staff rising to the event.
“The primary thought I had after checking nook one is that it felt pointless,” Stella mentioned. “When you’ve got groups combating for the championship, it’s the head — it’s the time to reap the efforts of a season — [and] that felt a bit of pointless.
“Generally adversities provide the alternative to indicate 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 a degree 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 finest and his finest 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 indicate 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 may have misplaced the place to Carlos and we may have misplaced the championship. The fellows delivered what I believe is without doubt one of the finest pit stops of the season, confirming the trajectory which was not solely automobile efficiency however was the general maturity, mentality, emotional resilience of all the staff.
“So, all this in some way was given the chance to be proven due to 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 staff on the pit wall on the finish of the Abu Dhabi GP. Zak Mauger/Motorsport Photographs
The McLaren staff principal admits he was nervous within the closing levels figuring out {that a} security automobile may have left Norris below risk from second-placed Sainz, which is why there was a lot emphasis additionally positioned on Piastri’s restoration via the sector.
“We have been conscious and that’s why we have been pushing very exhausting with Oscar to ensure that we may get P9 as a result of the 2 factors would have been basic.
“We have been undoubtedly nervous as a result of not solely the again markers have been an issue however the security automobile would have been an issue as a result of Carlos may have accomplished the alternative of what we do. So, if we don’t pit, he may have gone on new tires and it could have been an issue. If we had pitted, he would have taken the lead and we must always have overtaken him.
“So, we have been undoubtedly nervous due to this occurring, not a lot concerning 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 house to overhaul again markers.
“At that stage Lando had constructed a superb hole to Carlos — which was good to see by the way in which, as a result of within the first stint I don’t suppose there was a lot to select by way of 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.”