McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has denied claims that Oscar Piastri was the faster McLaren at the F1 Japanese Grand Prix.
Piastri endured a frustrating race in Suzuka, unable to pass team-mate Lando Norris or subsequently mount a challenge to Max Verstappen. The Australian showed glimpses of pace during the second half of the race, and requested a swap with Norris via radio. These calls were rebuffed.
Piastri stated after the F1 Japanese GP that he would talk with McLaren about the team’s strategy in the days before Bahrain.
Speaking to media after the race, Andrea Stella revealed that Norris lost grip and performance if he closed to within a second of race leader Max Verstappen.
“I don’t think it is so clear that Oscar was faster.
“I think Lando was trying to get in Max’s slipstream even closer, but anytime you went below one second, then there was a significant loss of grip.
Stella believes other teams still a threat after the F1 Japanese GP
Stella agreed when asked if losing the F1 Japanese GP is a reminder that the battle for the championship lies outside the intra-team battle at McLaren.
“We don’t need this kind of reminders because we talk about this every Thursday and every Sunday of every single race weekend. We are here first of all to beat the other teams, put McLaren in a very strong position.
“When McLaren is in a strong position then that’s the best position for the two drivers to pursue their aspirations. This is very clear to the team very clear to the drivers.
Obviously I think just to somehow validate your point when you have these indications coming from the track they may be if anything reinforcing the message that we do have to keep working well together because before it becomes an internal business only.
“ I think there’s quite a lot of work to do to clear some of the competitors because [George] Russell wasn’t very far in China as well.
When it came to just Orlando following Max he seemed to struggle particularly in the chicane as well was that just general deficiency was that just a legacy of him following another car?
