McLaren’s Andrea Stella defends handling of Norris and Piastri in title fight: “We are not naive!”. Andrea Stella explains McLaren’s approach to managing Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Andrea Stella has commented on McLaren’s approach to managing drivers in the fight for the 2025 F1 World Championship, highlighting the unprecedented collaboration between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Andrea Stella insists that McLaren is fully aware of the dangers linked to an internal title fight between teammates. With just three rounds remaining, including a Sprint in Qatar, the maximum points still available are 83, and Norris currently leads the standings with a 24-point advantage over Oscar Piastri.

Despite Norris and Piastri holding a substantial lead over Max Verstappen, who after the Brazilian Grand Prix trails them by 49 and 25 points respectively, the risk of the two teammates clashing and indirectly helping the Dutch driver remains.

If Verstappen were to succeed, it could repeat history, similar to Kimi Raikkonen’s 2007 title, when the Finnish Ferrari driver capitalized on the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso’s McLarens. However, after the Interlagos weekend, the Red Bull driver’s chances have significantly decreased with only three races left in the season.

Stella defends McLaren’s driver management: “We are not naive”

Defending McLaren’s choices in managing its drivers for the F1 championship, Andrea Stella said: “The history of Formula 1 is certainly a source we have used over time to ensure we calibrate how to manage two number-one drivers both fighting for a World Championship.”

“Lando, Oscar, and the team have performed exceptionally well so far. I am personally very proud of our two drivers and our engineers. They collaborate in a way that, in my opinion, has never been seen before in the history of Formula 1,” added the Italian engineer.

“We are not naive. We know the pressure is high. We know the stakes are significant, but we will continue to rely on our methods, our principles, and good communication. So far, what I’ve seen is that Lando and Oscar have always been very supportive… Oscar has spoken openly about the respect, the mutual support that exists between him and the team, and the same applies with Lando.”

“So we are in a strong position. We are not naive, but we will work very hard to ensure this position remains unchanged until the end of the championship.” – the McLaren team boss concluded ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend.