McLaren Formulation 1 group boss Andrea Stella believes Lando Norris blocking Sergio Perez performed a vital half in Oscar Piastri’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory.
Piastri was shadowing Ferrari’s chief Charles Leclerc within the first stint of a one-stop race when third-placed Sergio Perez tried to undercut the McLaren driver by being the primary to pit on lap 14.
Somewhat than responding instantly, Piastri stayed out for 2 further laps earlier than his lap 16 pitstop, which noticed him in peril of dropping second to the Pink Bull.
However within the wake of McLaren backing Norris in his title bid towards Max Verstappen, Norris truly helped Piastri in Baku.
Having began fifteenth on the tougher tyres, Norris had fallen a pitstop behind Perez and noticed the Mexican come out behind him after his cease. As requested by his race engineer, Norris tried to carry up Perez for 2 laps, which allowed Piastri to make his pitstop and nonetheless come out forward of the Pink Bull.
Piastri’s fast in- and out-laps additionally reduce his deficit to chief Leclerc as soon as the Ferrari driver pitted, and on lap 20 the Australian made a late lunge to the within of Flip 1 to take the lead of the race, which he would find yourself defending for a second profession win.
McLaren group principal Stella felt Norris’ actions could properly have been key to Piastri successful the race, as dropping behind Perez would have robbed the Australian of the possibility to go Leclerc earlier than his tyres began fading an excessive amount of in soiled air.
“Perez was undercutting and successfully, with out Lando’s assist Perez might have pitted [and stayed] forward of Oscar, and the race might have unfolded in a totally completely different approach,” Stella mentioned.
“So, I believe 50% of Oscar’s victory right this moment is shared with Lando and it simply exhibits that we’re approaching racing as one group. We had conversations earlier than the weekend the place we might bias come what may. However we method each weekend attempting to maximise the outcome for the group, and if one driver wants assist, the opposite driver will do it.”
Stella admitted he first thought Piastri’s hair-raising go on Leclerc in Flip 1 would find yourself within the run-off space.
“After I watched it reside and I noticed him going, my intuition mentioned he will go lengthy, as a result of the delay within the braking level,” he revealed.
“He got here from fairly far, and nonetheless he negotiated the apex. So yeah, I used to be shocked. However Oscar is at all times shocking us together with his capability, and I might say right this moment, he gave additionally an illustration of his psychological energy.
“He drove like a driver that has a variety of expertise, that has been below this sort of strain earlier than, that may look with one eye on the mirror, with the opposite eye at the place the braking level is.”
Andrea Stella, Workforce Principal, McLaren F1 Workforce, the McLaren group have fun in Parc Ferme
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Pictures
Poignantly, Piastri’s win and Norris’ sturdy restoration to fourth allowed McLaren to take over the lead of the constructors’ title for the primary time in 10 years because it bids to defeat Pink Bull, opening up a 20-point lead.
“As a milestone, it is positively enormous,” Stella added. “As a result of we do not have to overlook that we had been final once we began final season, and now we lead the classification.
“That has been potential due to the arduous work, and the standard of the work of your complete group, the help from our shareholders, our companions, the followers – you obtain this since you obtain it collectively.”
A small worth to pay for McLaren’s Baku success was a 5000 euro high quality for a few of its crew members heading in the direction of parc ferme to have fun earlier than the top of the race, which was penalised by the stewards.
