McLaren’s Sao Paulo Struggles Despite Constructors’ Boost

McLaren’s mixed Sao Paulo GP performance saw Norris and Piastri finish off-podium, but the team extended its lead over Ferrari.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished sixth and eighth in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix race, marking a disappointing performance for McLaren F1. According to team principal Andrea Stella, the MCL38 lacked the pace needed to achieve a better result.

“The day was eventful in Sao Paulo, which is unsurprising given the changing conditions. Congratulations to Max for an impressive climb from the back of the grid, and to Alpine for their double podium,” Stella said.

“The circumstances didn’t favor us at Interlagos. The timing of the red flag, especially after we had changed tires, was unfortunate. It was difficult to make progress, both for Lando and Oscar.”

“We didn’t provide them with a fast enough car to overtake in the race without DRS activated. Unfortunately, we also incurred a penalty when Oscar came into contact with Liam Lawson, costing us a position at the end.”

Despite the setback from the red flag, Stella insisted they did not regret the decision to pit Norris.

“There are a few points we need to review on our side. We did lose some positions with the red flag, but we felt it was the right thing to do with so much water on track. We don’t regret it. It was a cautious stop. Ultimately, it worked out for the cars behind us who took a bit of a gamble by staying out, and the red flag essentially reset the race. So, there are lessons to learn, but also positives to take away.”

Although this result likely dealt a fatal blow to Norris’s championship hopes, McLaren has extended its lead over Ferrari at the top of the constructors’ standings. Stella said this eased the team’s disappointment.

“Obviously, when you start from pole position, you always hope to finish in first place. The race was highly eventful, and some incidents didn’t work in our favor, meaning we ended up far from the podium. But still with good points.”

“It was crucial to stay in contention. If we look at the constructors’ championship, it’s important that we outperformed Ferrari, which puts us in a good position for the final part of the season.”

The Italian remains hopeful and takes a positive view of the weekend.

“Overall, we leave this weekend having increased our lead in the constructors’ championship, as I mentioned.”

“The competition is incredibly tough this year, so I really want to commend Lando and Oscar for their work, for staying on track, finishing the race, and allowing us to keep ahead of our closest rivals.”

“A huge thanks also to everyone at Woking for bringing improvements and updates over the last three races, and a big thank you to the whole team for their efforts and excellent work during this demanding triple-header.”

“There are lessons to be learned for the future, and we’ll address them in the coming days. Our focus now shifts to the final three races of the season.”