P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has a simple message for his crew ahead of the F1 season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Andrea Stella has emphasized to McLaren the importance of success in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to secure the F1 drivers’ championship for either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri. The team is starting the race with Norris and Piastri in second and third positions, while Max Verstappen has taken pole position. The British driver is currently in a strong position to win the championship, but McLaren must perform well in the final race. Stella noted the incredibly close performance of Norris and Piastri during qualifying, with only 29-thousandths of a second separating them. Despite Red Bull’s edge in one-lap pace, McLaren is focusing on race pace for the crucial race. Norris leads Verstappen by 12 points, putting him in a good position to claim his first championship since Lewis Hamilton’s win in 2008, but Stella is aware of the need for a strong team performance in the race.
