P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Andrea Stella admits McLaren worried over Verstappen’s F1 Spanish GP three-stop strategy
At the Spanish Grand Prix, McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella admitted that Max Verstappen’s three-stop strategy caused concern for the team, as they originally thought it wouldn’t be a problem, expecting a four-stop strategy from the Red Bull driver.
Verstappen’s early pit stop on lap 13 indicated a three-stop plan, and his strong pace kept him in contention throughout the race, pressuring McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
McLaren had to respond strategically by pitting their drivers to cover off Verstappen’s pace, with Norris and Piastri making crucial stops as Verstappen closed in.
Despite the pressure from Verstappen, Norris managed to hold him off with a strong performance on his final set of soft tires.
Both McLaren drivers had to manage tire overheating issues during the race, with Norris reporting graining on his fronts which Stella believed was actually front-left overheating.
Stella praised the team’s execution of the race strategy, acknowledging the risks involved in their two-stop plan against Verstappen’s aggressive three-stop strategy.
