P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Andrea Stella says he will not shy away from laying down the law with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, if he feels they stray beyond the parameters of accepting racing.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella emphasized that he will not blindly support his drivers if he perceives that they have exceeded boundaries in wheel-to-wheel racing incidents. The clash between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen at the Austrian Grand Prix reignited discussions about driving standards in Formula 1. McLaren CEO Zak Brown stated that while they are ready to compete aggressively with Red Bull, McLaren will not pursue a “win-at-all-costs” mentality. Stella echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of racing within regulations and with respect. He acknowledged the difficulty of racing on track but stressed the team’s commitment to ensuring their drivers adhere to the correct standards. Stella made pointed remarks following the Norris-Verstappen incident, drawing parallels to the contentious Verstappen-Hamilton title battle in 2021. The Italian also questioned the integrity of Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner in his post-race comments. Despite the friction between McLaren and Red Bull, Stella maintained respect for Max Verstappen and the Red Bull team.
