The Brazilian Grand Prix was supposed to be a big win for McLaren, but things didn’t go as planned.
Lando Norris started in first place, yet he finished sixth, and Oscar Piastri ended up in eighth. Despite these setbacks, Andrea Stella felt relieved both drivers completed the race amidst the stormy chaos at Interlagos.
McLaren’s Race Day Challenges
The rain-soaked track turned the race into a wild ride. McLaren lost some spots due to strategy choices and Norris slipping off the track twice. Stella found a silver lining though, saying it could have been much worse.
“First of all, I judge it with the fact that the message to both drivers was, ‘Let’s finish the race,’” Stella explained. “We need to finish because races like this can easily end in disaster with no points at all. Considering what we are fighting for at the moment, this is what we wanted to avoid.” He praised both drivers for achieving this goal.
Reflecting on Lando’s performance, Stella mentioned the off-track moments that cost them positions. “We struggled with both drivers,” he admitted. “Our car was tricky and unpredictable in these conditions.” Fans might think McLaren should have done better given their starting position.
Stella also noted they need to review certain aspects like their start and whether there was too much wheel spin. “We’ll look at everything in a constructive way,” he said.
Despite focusing on missed opportunities, Stella emphasized the positives: finishing the race and earning good points. This helped them widen their lead over others in the Constructor Championship standings.
What do you think about McLaren’s performance?
