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McLaren's Rise to Top in F1 a 'Significant Milestone'

Stella: Championship Lead Marks Milestone for McLaren

15/09/2024

McLaren F1’s climb from the bottom to championship leaders in 2023 highlights their significant progress and relentless team effort.

McLaren F1 secured their fourth win of the season in Baku, marking the second victory for Oscar Piastri. This achievement propels the Woking-based team to the forefront of the Constructors’ Championship, surpassing Red Bull, much to the delight of Andrea Stella.

“Leading the championship represents a significant milestone, especially considering that at the start of the 2023 season we were at the bottom, and now we find ourselves at the top,” stated the McLaren director, who believes that this success is not indicative of his team’s domination but rather proof of their ability to harness potential.

“It’s a significant step that has been made possible through the tremendous effort, hard work, and quality from the entire team, supported by our shareholders, partners, and fans. You achieve this because you achieve it together.”

“However, my approach to racing and how I want the team to race means that this joy will be short-lived. We do not focus on the standings; we simply concentrate on executing each weekend and implementing the improvements planned for some upcoming races, as the car is still not fast enough to make for dull races, which isn’t in the interest of Formula 1 but is definitely the path we wish to pursue.”

“When it comes to McLaren, I often hear ‘McLaren has the best car.’ I don’t think that’s borne out by the numbers. In the data, McLaren excels on specific circuits, such as Barcelona, Hungary, and Zandvoort for technical reasons, but here I don’t believe McLaren had any advantage over Ferrari, and I don’t even think over Red Bull.”

“We have work to do to make the car faster, and we must remain humble and keep our feet on the ground, as in all honesty, there is very little between the top four teams. It is very balanced and the difference comes down to the drivers’ execution and the team’s execution.”

It should be noted that McLaren was summoned after the race due to an issue with “team personnel and equipment in the pit lane during the race.”

This constitutes a breach of Article 34.13 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.

“The stewards heard from the team representative and reviewed video evidence. While it is not uncommon for team personnel to move towards the Parc Fermé area before the race ends, McLaren had team members and equipment in the pit lane while other teams were still making pit stops, thus creating a potentially dangerous situation.”

McLaren has been fined €5,000.

McLaren's Rise to Top in F1 a 'Significant Milestone'

McLaren’s Rise to Top in F1 a ‘Significant Milestone’ McLaren’s Rise to Top in F1 a ‘Significant Milestone’

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