“There is the present of the team, but there is also the future that must not be compromised.” This is how Andrea Stella proudly defended all of McLaren’s decisions and actions, a universe of nuances summed up in the ‘Papaya Rules,’ which ultimately did not cost the Woking team the Drivers’ Championship, won by Lando Norris with a two-point margin over Max Verstappen.
Already in Hungary in 2024, when McLaren asked Lando Norris to give way to Oscar Piastri after the Englishman had found himself leading due to strategy, Norris was reminded over the radio how important it was at that moment to do the right thing to maintain his teammate’s loyalty.
At the end of the Abu Dhabi GP, Stella highlighted in the press conference that the message and the legacy McLaren leaves through this achievement were more important than any result: “In the morning, I was speaking with some people in the team, reminding them that on an important day it was crucial to think about what drives us to follow certain principles – said Andrea Stella – one could win 16 World Championships, but it gives me greater satisfaction to leave an important message, namely that some values still matter. This is the legacy we want to leave, one that can be built on a culture focused on progress, not regret.”
In a ruthless and cynical sport like F1, where no one is spared and every thousandth of a second can make a difference, McLaren deliberately chose not to establish hierarchies within the team until the math allowed it. Max Verstappen and Red Bull took advantage, but in the end, Norris and McLaren still achieved a major milestone, with Norris emphasizing that he won in his own way, without pushing anyone off the track.
Leave a Reply