After an all-time performance in Brazil, Max Verstappen already has one hand on the 2024 drivers’ Championship. However, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella claims that securing the drivers crown with Lando Norris was neve the priority – instead pointing to the teams’ title as the main goal.
Norris misses out on title opportunity
Since McLaren introduced their Miami update package, their ability to fight for the F1 Championship has been under the spotlight.
More specifically, whether Lando Norris could capitalise on his superior machinery and overtake Max Verstappen in the standings became the biggest talking point in F1.
Having missed out on victory at the Italian GP, McLaren began imposing team orders on Oscar Piastri.
The Australian has been made to make sacrifices for Norris on several occasions – including the Brazil Sprint and Brazilian GP itself.
Despite the team’s efforts to support Norris, the British driver finds himself in a near-impossible position to stop Verstappen from clinching a 4th world title.
Andrea Stella downplays drivers’ title
However, McLaren’s team principal insists that defeat over Max Verstappen was never the priority.
Andrea Stella argues that staying ahead of Ferrari and Red Bull has always been their main objective in 2024:
“In terms of the constructors’ championship, I don’t think it changes anything,” he told motorsport.com.
“It was always our priority. Even when there was a call made to support one driver or the other – it was always secondary to maximising the constructors championship.
“Mathematically we are still in the [drivers] championship. But I think for Lando and for Oscar, we will go to the next races trying to win the races.
“The last two venues should be quite good. Vegas will be potentially more of a Ferrari track, and then we will see.
“It is all to play for, and the constructors’ championship remains and has always been our priority.”
Regardless of Stella’s comments, it is clear that McLaren wanted to win the drivers’ crown with Lando Norris.
Although the constructors’ championship is important, it is still secondary to the individual title.
Mercedes certainly weren’t celebrating their 2021 constructors championship after Max Verstappen crossed the line in Abu Dhabi.
Still, with just three rounds left this season, McLaren will look to execute clean races and keep Ferrari at bay.
