Andrea Stella emphasizes the importance of FIA oversight in maintaining fairness during intense battles between Norris and Verstappen.
Andrea Stella, the McLaren F1 team principal, expressed satisfaction with the penalties given to Max Verstappen after his maneuvers against Lando Norris in Mexico. The Red Bull driver received a 10-second penalty for forcing Norris off the track twice, once when Norris was ahead at the apex, and another time by overtaking off-track.
When asked if he agreed with Zak Brown’s stance, Stella responded: “I haven’t heard what Zak said about Max’s penalty.”
“In my opinion, and this is a comment I make directly after the race, there may be more details in terms of analyzing and interpreting the incidents, but the penalties seem consistent with the application of the guidelines and with this type of incident.”
“So, from that perspective, it was a positive day because it shows that authority is in place. It shows that the stewards have done a good job, a job that surely comes from constant review, as we do with everything that happens in Formula 1—you review and then you improve.”
“For me, it seems that this process has also taken place in terms of control, in terms of constructive consideration of certain feedback by the FIA, and we appreciate that. Not just as a team but as a member of the F1 community, I must thank the FIA and the stewards.”
Stella also believes Norris can learn a lot from having raced against Verstappen in a clean manner: “Lando can often view his own race with a glass-half-empty perspective regarding what he could have done.”
“Our conversations during our internal reviews have been very clear: Lando, we like and endorse the way you race. It’s not up to him to try to seek justice himself.”
“He races in a fair and sporting manner, as he always has, and then it’s up to a third party, the steward, to determine whether those maneuvers are correct or not. ‘Don’t be desperate, you have nothing to prove, you race fairly and equitably,’ that’s what we tell him.”
“That’s what we expect from Lando. It’s what Lando expects of himself, and I think it was important for the team to reaffirm that this is what we expect from him, this is how we want to race at McLaren, and for a driver in a McLaren.”
“That’s why it’s a positive day because it showed that it’s good to fight, but both drivers shouldn’t resolve the issue on track. A third party is needed; authority is needed, so we are completely satisfied with this aspect as well as with how Lando has raced so far.”
“Every time I read headlines about Max and his superiority in duels, I need to have a conversation with [Lando] and reassure him: ‘Don’t worry, everything will be fine.’ And finally, he has been proven right.”
Stella had some initial thoughts on McLaren F1’s race in Mexico.
“The mission at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez was, with both cars, to finish better than where we qualified. The pace was very good. We beat one of the Ferraris, and realistically, looking at the data, without the time lost at the start behind Verstappen, Lando could have had a chance for victory. It’s very encouraging for future races.”
“Lando drove our upgraded car this weekend, and once again, I’d like to extend a warm thank you to the technical department for preparing this car and to the entire team for bringing it to the track.”
“Oscar will also have the upgrade in Brazil. He delivered a strong performance. It wasn’t easy to climb through the field, but he was patient when needed and brought home valuable points. These could prove crucial at the end of the season, as this championship will be decided in the final stretch.”
“We now focus on São Paulo. We look forward to another exciting race with Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes. It’s great for Formula 1, and we’re enjoying it!”
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McLaren Boss: FIA Vital in Fair Norris-Verstappen Fight McLaren Boss: FIA Vital in Fair Norris-Verstappen Fight. f1 2024 McLaren Boss: FIA Vital in Fair Norris-Verstappen Fight
