McLaren has faced a barrage of criticism in recent months. Many fans disagree with the way the papayas are approaching the championship. The team management is trying to give Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris equal opportunities in the title fight, to the point that a slow pit stop leads to a swap on the track. However, Günther Steiner warns McLaren that fairness – in the case of a title fight – does not always last the longest.
“What we want is for our drivers and Max Verstappen – although we actually want to eliminate him – to fight for the championship with equal opportunities,” McLaren CEO recently told Bloomberg. “May the best win; that’s what we’re striving for. If possible, we don’t want to stand in the way as a team, but unexpected things can always happen. For example, Lando (Norris, ed.) had a mechanical defect in Zandvoort, and we always have to take into account safety cars and such. But our goal remains to prepare Lando and Oscar (Piastri, ed.) for a title fight that – if necessary – will only be decided in Abu Dhabi.” Steiner emphasizes that this overly fair approach by McLaren cannot continue indefinitely.
Being Too Honest Doesn’t Help
“At some point, you just have to let them race,” said the former team boss to Lottoland. “Being too honest doesn’t help.” Even with the threat of Max Verstappen, Steiner believes that McLaren still has enough margin not to intervene anymore. “Personally, I would just let them race,” he continued. “I believe they still have a lead in the upcoming race. If Max does get closer, which I don’t expect, then you have to say: ‘Hey guys, it’s time to make a decision. Whoever leads from now on is going for the world championship.’
Steiner recalls the controversial team orders from McLaren during the Italian GP. “Piastri had to let Norris pass because Norris’ pit stop was too slow,” he explained. “But a slow pit stop is just part of racing. At some point, you have to let that go. I think it has sometimes been a bit too honest,” Steiner concluded. “I know that ‘too honest’ doesn’t really exist, but in this case, it’s clear. It means that Andrea Stella and Zak Brown have tried to be honest, but they are overthinking it in this case.”
