Stella defends strategy split for Norris and Piastri in F1 Hungarian GP

McLaren boss Andrea Stella says the team’s split strategies between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix was a “part of racing”.  

Norris won after making a one-stop strategy work, holding off two-stopping Piastri, which he only opted to take out of desperation after losing positions to George Russell and – initially – Fernando Alonso on lap one. 

Norris spent the first stint tucked behind Russell, which hurt his tyre life, but when Piastri pitted and Russell then followed leader Charles Leclerc in for a tyre change as well, Norris saw a chance to extend his stint and find some much needed clear air. That eventually enticed him into a one-stop to try and have a chance to fight Piastri, whose race was hurt by an unsuccessful undercut attempt on Leclerc. 

In theoretical race time Piastri’s two-stopper was still quicker, but on the twisty Hungaroring he couldn’t find a way past Norris despite fresher tyres, which meant he was eventually punished for trying to be aggressive in his bid to beat Leclerc earlier on. 

It’s the second consecutive race Piastri and Norris diverged on strategy, with Norris taking harder tyres at the Belgian Grand Prix in a bid to obtain a late advantage to catch and pass Piastri. 

Earlier this season, McLaren copped criticism after sticking to a more conservative strategy at Suzuka’s Japanese Grand Prix as Norris and Piastri were chasing Max Verstappen, refusing to split strategies as it didn’t feel the remote chance of beating the Red Bull was worth the risk disadvantaging one of its drivers over the other. 

Budapest was different, as Norris and McLaren didn’t know at the time that converting to a marginal one-stop would win him the race. But the team did know that simply following the strategy of the cars ahead would not. 

And according to Stella, giving both drivers opportunities to win the race from their positions was the right thing to do. 

“As McLaren Racing, we want to give great racing to Formula 1,” he said. “We want to give our two drivers the possibility to utilise, express their talent, pursue their aspirations, their personal success, and this needs to happen within the boundaries of the team interest and the fairness, the sportsmanship, and the respect for one another. 

“For me, this is what I see. When we have a deviating strategy, when we have different options, I think this is part of racing. I think none of the drivers were surprised. So far, I can only be very grateful to the way Lando and Oscar have interpreted the way we go racing as a team, and I’m sure this is going to be the same until the end of the season.” 

McLaren didn’t consider that giving Norris the option of a one-stopper could be unfair on Piastri, because it wasn’t convinced a 40-lap stint on hard tyres was the right way to go yet. 

The end result was its two drivers duking it out on track in the closing stages, as was the case a week prior in Belgium, with McLaren’s rules of engagement facing their latest stress test as Piastri almost hit Norris after a Turn 1 lock-up, prompting a radio reminder about the team’s values. 

Andrea Stella, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren

Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images

“That was firm, fair racing,” said Stella, defusing the incident. “It was definitely within our principles. We had a bit of a lock-up with Oscar, but at the same time, Lando left some space, because he knew that Oscar would have been at the limit of braking. 

“We keep being very proud of how Lando and Oscar go racing. I think this is a great way of honouring Formula 1 racing. These are the values of McLaren. 

“It’s going to be hopefully a matter between the two McLaren drivers, even if we saw Ferrari today was in the competition for the victory for two-thirds of the race. I think we have a very entertaining and interesting final part of the season.”