P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella had addressed how Mercedes played a significant role in damage limitation for the Woking squad at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella expressed gratitude to Mercedes for their one-two finish at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, recognizing it prevented Ferrari from taking advantage of McLaren’s struggles. Despite George Russell and Lewis Hamilton securing the top spots, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc still claimed podium finishes, highlighting Mercedes’ unexpected strength in challenging conditions that many teams struggled with. Lando Norris finished sixth and Oscar Piastri seventh in a race that saw McLaren’s lead in the constructors’ standings shrink from 36 to 24 points over Ferrari. Stella acknowledged the missed opportunity for McLaren to extend their lead but was relieved by Mercedes’ strong performance. With the F1 season heading to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, Stella remains hopeful that McLaren will fare better, aiming to secure their first constructors’ championship since 1998 and edge past Mercedes in title wins. Ultimately, as Stella reflected on the close competition and unpredictable season, he admitted to the exciting yet nerve-wracking final chapter awaiting McLaren in the championship battle.
