Sao Paulo disappointment “does not change something”, insists McLaren boss Andrea Stella as Woking outfit targets group title.
Which might be simply in addition to Max Verstappen, following his bravura efficiency at Interlagos, can put the title out of Lando Norris’ attain in Las Vegas.
Extreme wheelspin in the beginning adopted by a few errors and the unlucky timing of a purple flag all left the Briton 62 level adrift of his rival.
Nevertheless, McLaren stays 37 factors forward of Ferrari within the all-important – so far as prize cash is anxious – group standings and 48 away from Crimson Bull.
“By way of the Constructors’ Championship, I do not suppose it adjustments something,” stated Stella in response to Sunday’s consequence, which noticed Norris come residence sixth and teammate Oscar Piastri eighth.
“It was all the time our precedence,” he added. “Even when there was a name to be made to assist one driver or the opposite, it was all the time secondary to maximising the constructors’ championship.”
Requested if the stress of the (drivers’) title combat had bought to Norris – who ungraciously urged that his rival’s win had been all the way down to luck – Stella stated: “In terms of the drivers’ championship, I do not suppose for Lando there was any explicit stress.
“We had been having fun with this quest, though generally from the skin it might come throughout like there’s an error right here or there perhaps,” he added. “It’s like after we locked the tyres with the automobile like we had in Brazil I’m not wanting on the driver, I’m taking a look at why the automobile retains locking the entrance tyres in situations like this. I do not suppose stress was a big issue in any respect.
“Mathematically we’re nonetheless within the (drivers’) championship,” he continued, “however I believe for Lando and for Oscar, we are going to go to the subsequent races attempting to win the races.
“The final two venues must be fairly good,” he stated. “Vegas will probably be doubtlessly extra of a Ferrari observe, after which we are going to see. It’s all to play for, and the Constructors’ Championship stays and has all the time been our precedence.”
All of which begs the query why was Piastri pressured handy over his lead within the Dash to his teammate, and – if the constructors’ title is the precedence – will there be a repeat ought to the Australian discover himself main the Briton once more.
