Andrea Stella was stuffed with his reward for his drivers throughout a ‘tense’ Austrian Grand Prix, as McLaren title protagonists Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri battled for the lead with the Briton ultimately sealing victory.
It was a two-horse race for the win on the Pink Bull Ring as soon as Piastri made his well past Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the beginning of the Grand Prix, the Australian then harrying and pushing polesitter Norris on within the first stint.
In an exhilarating trade within the early levels Norris was unable to interrupt the DRS, and was vulnerable for lap after lap to his workforce mate, one thing that can have heightened the guts charges on the McLaren pit wall given the duo’s collision within the Canadian Grand Prix.
Because the battle for the lead went on Piastri did handle to briefly overtake for first place, solely to see Norris minimize straight again previous. Then got here arguably the championship chief’s finest alternative as he out-braked Norris into Flip 4 – solely to lock up, and narrowly keep away from contact.
McLaren pitted Norris quickly after, after which their methods diverged – Piastri staying out earlier than rising from his personal pit cease six seconds adrift of his workforce mate in a while, with McLaren then in a position to take pleasure in a barely much less fraught race.
Piastri by no means acquired again into DRS for the rest of the Grand Prix, with Norris going on to win his third race of the season.
“It was intense racing, however that’s what we’re right here for, to race,” Stella defined.
“It was an open race at the moment and right here in Austria it’s a particular observe as, while you get the DRS, you keep hooked to the automotive forward and that is what occurred within the first stint, because the tempo between Lando and Oscar was very related.
“So, that is what occurred, they stayed collectively all through the stint and Oscar had a few possibilities. We’re very completely happy and happy with how they dealt with the scenario.
“We wanted to present Oscar a bit of recommendation by way of the manoeuvre in Flip 4, which he as soon as once more acknowledged. So, I’m happy with him for the way he stated straight after the chequered flag that he was sorry for that manoeuvre, he went a bit too far. It’s not simple, it’s Method 1, he’s racing, he’s racing exhausting however it’s a good day.”
Piastri stays within the lead of the Championship, however Norris has closed the hole down to simply 15 factors following his Spielberg triumph. With Max Verstappen failing to complete, the McLaren pair have a commanding lead over the remaining in what’s shaping as much as be a straight intra-team battle for the title.
“They’re clearly anxious moments, however we belief, we depend on Oscar and Lando and likewise as soon as we’re on the pit wall you simply try to keep as chilled as attainable and analyse rationally what’s going on,” Stella added, reflecting on the pairs on-track battles.
“However for us, it was clear that the fellows wanted to have the chance to present the race, each, so long as they do it in the way in which they’ve achieved it at the moment. It’s a nice spectacle for Method 1.
“We’re completely happy that we entertain our followers, our spectators and we sit up for extra races like this even when, sure, it gave us some nervousness on the pit wall. However that’s what we’re right here for.”
Following McLaren’s 1-2 lead to Austria, the Woking-based squad have an much more commanding lead within the Teams’ Championship, 207 factors forward of Ferrari.
