Andrea Stella, the Team Principal of the McLaren Formula 1 team, addressed the media after the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps to discuss a strategic detail that could have potentially influenced the final race result—specifically for British driver Lando Norris. According to Stella, the possibility of executing a double pit stop during the Grand Prix was proposed by the team but ultimately turned down by Norris himself.
What unfolded at the historic Spa circuit was yet another commanding performance from the McLaren team, which continues to impress under the leadership of Andrea Stella. The race weekend highlighted the team’s technical excellence and operational sharpness, placing them in a league of their own. However, behind the scenes, a crucial decision during the race might have altered the outcome, particularly for Lando Norris. The big question that emerged afterward was: what prevented the Woking-based team—nicknamed the “papaya” squad due to their orange livery—from executing a double pit stop?
Despite variable track conditions and constantly changing weather, the McLaren MCL39 once again proved to be the standout car on the grid. It confirmed its position as one of the strongest and most consistent contenders of the 2025 Formula 1 season. At this point in the championship, it is increasingly evident that the title battle is not with other teams such as Red Bull Racing or Scuderia Ferrari, but rather an internal rivalry between McLaren’s own drivers—Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
After the Hungarian Grand Prix, the team management clarified that with the Constructors’ Championship essentially secured, their two drivers would now have the freedom to compete directly against each other without team orders restricting them.
Nonetheless, the intra-team battle seems to be more one-sided than expected. As demonstrated once again at Spa-Francorchamps, Australian driver Oscar Piastri made a significant difference on track. He consistently maintained a gap of several seconds ahead of his teammate Lando Norris throughout the race. Meanwhile, Norris experienced several issues that compromised his performance—these included repeated errors, brake lock-ups, and even minor off-track excursions.
For Lando Norris, who had started from pole position, the turning point of the race occurred right at the start. After losing position to Oscar Piastri in the opening phase, Norris was called into the pits only after his teammate, meaning he had to stay out longer on intermediate tyres while the track was already drying rapidly. Those additional laps on the wrong tyre compound ultimately cost him around eight seconds.
This raised a strategic dilemma: would it have been possible to perform a double pit stop, thereby giving both McLaren drivers an equal chance at victory? Andrea Stella offered clarity on the matter.
“Yes, I admit that we did consider the double pit stop,” Andrea Stella told the press, including Motorsport Week and other international media outlets. “However, at the same time, it was also entirely feasible for Lando to pursue a different strategy. It was actually Lando himself who made the decision to switch to hard compound tyres and stick to that plan moving forward.”
Andrea Stella went on to explain that there was a moment during the race when he believed that this alternate approach might have been the more intelligent choice under the circumstances. He acknowledged, however, that Oscar Piastri managed his stint on the hard tyres with absolute precision and efficiency. “Even though Lando Norris was on average marginally quicker, the gap was never substantial enough to seriously challenge or overtake Oscar during the final laps of the race,” Stella noted.
To conclude, Andrea Stella reiterated that the double pit stop scenario was indeed on the table, but in the end, it was Lando Norris who opted for a different path. That decision, combined with Piastri’s superior race execution, ultimately determined the final outcome in McLaren’s internal contest at Spa.
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