Did Hamilton’s Defence Against Norris Gift Leclerc the Podium?

Hamilton’s clever racecraft blocked Norris just enough to let Leclerc slip through—denying McLaren a deserved spot on the podium.

McLaren F1 Team Principal Andrea Stella has revealed that Lewis Hamilton’s stubborn defense against Lando Norris didn’t just help Ferrari secure a podium—it also helped McLaren make a smart call for Oscar Piastri.

Speaking after the race, Stella shared a moment that perfectly illustrated the synergy within the McLaren garage. As Norris struggled to pass Hamilton, valuable insights were immediately passed on to Piastri’s side of the pit wall.

“Let me tell you a story,” said Stella. “Lando’s race engineer told Oscar’s engineer: ‘We struggled to pass Lewis because he re-overtook us into Turn 1 after we tried in Turn 27. Make sure Oscar knows—his best shot is into Turn 1.’”

That heads-up prevented Piastri from making a risky move in the final corners, potentially saving the team from a costly mistake.

“I was proud listening to that from the pit wall,” Stella added. “No one had to ask for it—it was just natural teamwork. Hats off to Will Joseph, Tom Stallard, and the entire team.”

A Team Effort Beyond the Track

Stella also praised the behind-the-scenes effort after Norris’ qualifying crash. Though the impact with the SAFER barrier wasn’t severe, the car needed a near-complete rebuild.

“It wasn’t a major crash, but nearly every component had to be changed—except the chassis and engine,” he said. “There’s always tension when you have to strip and rebuild a car like that. But everything was ready, and that gave Lando the chance to score crucial points. Massive credit to Charlie Hooper and all the mechanics who made it happen.”

Missed Podium, But a Strong Statement

Despite finishing off the podium, Stella applauded Norris’ race craft and the team’s strategy. Starting on hard tyres paid off, and without the time lost behind Hamilton, Norris might have challenged Charles Leclerc for P3.

“The short version is: it was a fantastic recovery from Lando,” Stella explained. “We debated the tyre choice and went with hards, hoping to exploit our long-run pace—and it worked. On Friday, Lando was the fastest over race simulations.”

But Hamilton’s race smarts came into play. The Mercedes driver defended hard and retook Norris a couple of times, costing the McLaren valuable seconds—enough to keep Leclerc out of reach.

“Hamilton is, well, Lewis Hamilton. He knows exactly how to race. That duel delayed us, and ultimately, we couldn’t attack Leclerc.”

Still, Stella gave Ferrari credit where it was due.

“Leclerc and Ferrari were very fast, especially at the end of that first stint on mediums. Honestly, we didn’t expect those tyres to last so well. But it gave us confidence that Lando’s final stint would be strong—and it was. He overtook Russell, but the lost time and Ferrari’s pace kept us off the podium.”

Momentum Moving Forward

Despite missing out on a trophy, McLaren leaves the weekend with plenty of positives.

“These are valuable points for the championship, and a morale boost for Lando,” said Stella. “He showed just how sharp his racecraft is. Like he said on the team radio during the final lap—we just need to nail our Saturdays, and then the fun really begins.”

• Discover More>Pirelli cools concerns after calm, clean Jeddah Grand Prix
• Follow us on >FACEBOOK and >TWITTERfor F1 update

Did Hamilton’s Defence Against Norris Gift Leclerc the Podium? Did Hamilton’s Defence Against Norris Gift Leclerc the Podium?