McLaren F1 Snubs Team Orders in Title Chase

McLaren F1’s Stella asserts a no “number one” policy, focusing on team health over hierarchy in the title race against Verstappen.

Max Verstappen now leads Lando Norris by 70 points in the drivers’ championship. Mathematically, the title is still possible for the McLaren F1 driver… if he delivers flawlessly.

And if Oscar Piastri consistently supports his teammate’s interests during races. But is this McLaren F1’s new official stance?

After finishing 4th at the Dutch Grand Prix and falling 45 points behind his teammate, Piastri has no more hopes for the title. Isn’t it time, even temporarily, to make him a number 2?

Andrea Stella, the team principal, has set the line from Woking. To be clear: no, McLaren F1 will not establish a categorical hierarchy between its two drivers.

“We always have discussions about race instructions from the first race, as we always want to enter a race knowing clearly how we will handle the internal competition between the two drivers.”

“Discussions on team orders therefore occur throughout the season. But this conversation must be viewed in the context of what the drivers’ standings are, for example. Generally, our approach is to be fair, to have what we call integrity in our racing style. And I keep repeating that I know no driver who wants a contract stating that they are number one.”

“Drivers want to be number one because they are fast on the track. And when you are fast on the track, you definitely want the team’s support when it comes to a 50-50 decision. Or, you know, if you’ve had eight good weekends and there’s one where you’re struggling a bit… the team can then help you, right? But there’s no driver for whom we would say, for example, we have nine races ahead and we are appointing a number one driver.”

“And what happens next? All favors are granted to the number one driver. This is not a healthy way to manage a team.”

Lando Norris could be quite displeased with this policy direction from Stella.

That’s why the McLaren F1 boss clarifies that if there are to be any instructions, they will be on a race-by-race basis, depending on the situation of each Grand Prix… but even then, fairness will be the rule.

“But for each race, we analyze the situations. And in the 50-50 situations where, specifically, Lando might need a bit more support from the team, we will provide it to him.”

“But Oscar is part of the team. The team should not do things that don’t seem reasonable to Oscar. We are all in the same boat. You can’t have a team with just one driver – and a driver who follows the team against his will. The second driver needs to be part of this conversation and agree with what we believe is the right way forward.”