Team Principal Andrea Stella reveals that he is prepared for a potential title fight between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Both McLaren drivers are contenders for the world championship, especially in the powerful MCL39, and the Italian therefore anticipates a race where one of the two might not be pleased with McLaren’s decision.
With the strongest car on the current grid and two skilled drivers in the cockpits, McLaren stands a good chance of winning the drivers’ championship for the first time since 2008. Currently, Norris leads the championship with 62 points, but Team Principal Andrea Stella is prepared for a potential title fight between the two McLaren drivers, which could necessitate difficult decisions.
“I certainly cannot rule out that this could happen,” the Italian candidly admits in Bahrain. “The advantage of having two strong drivers is clear in the long term, but in the short term, it could happen that one driver disagrees with how a race is unfolding. We are aware of this. That’s why we’re not considering ‘if’ this happens, but ‘when’ it happens.”
Adjustments for Norris
However, for Norris to stand a good chance of winning his first world championship, it would help if the MCL39 feels comfortable for him. The McLaren driver has already mentioned a few times during past races that this is not always the case. “I think we now understand why that is,” Stella reassures the Brit. “That’s why we’ve made some adjustments for this weekend.” However, the team principal does not want to disclose what changes have been made to Norris’s MCL39 in Bahrain.
