McLaren team orders would have “destroyed” future chances

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has insisted he was not prepared to ‘destroy’ the balance within the squad by employing team orders for Oscar Piastri to help Lando Norris in his quest for Formula 1’s drivers’ title.

Norris is hunting down three-time reigning champion Max Verstappen and remains within touching distance of the Red Bull driver, though he lost ground at the United States Grand Prix in controversial circumstances, having been penalised for overtaking off the track.

But outside the team, it has been felt by many that points have been left on the table for Norris by not enforcing orders onto Piastri earlier in the season, the most notable situation at the Hungarian GP where the Briton was instead asked to give the lead to his team-mate following a change in positions at the final pitstop window.

It has been a scenario the Woking-based team has had to adapt to with a fresh management structure still learning the ropes at an outfit that has been away from the limelight for over a decade.

Discussing the dynamics of number one and two drivers in an exclusive interview with Autosport, Stella explained: “Driver management must be seen in the context of the competitiveness of the car.

“You always need to have a management line, but if you compete for 10th and 11th place, all your efforts are directed towards achieving competitiveness. It is when you get to fighting for the top positions that the scenario changes.

“Our focus has always been on maximum collaboration. This is because there is a main objective, something bigger than the team principal, something bigger than Lando and something bigger than Oscar, and that is the interest of the team, of McLaren. This aspect is non-negotiable, in any situation.

“We have always approached driver management, and in general, the rules by which we go on the track according to some principles: the first, as I said, is the interest of the team, the second is sportsmanship, or if you prefer, integrity.

“These are very important values, we want to act fairly and correctly towards both our drivers, and this aspect becomes even more important when you have two talents who have the skills and the whole package needed to win races.

“We have worked hard to be where we are today, we have worked hard to have and develop Oscar, as well as Lando. When you have two drivers who work…