McLaren have two drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who are capable of leading the team and winning races in Formula 1.
Since taking a step forward at the Miami Grand Prix in May, the British team has had the car to beat at many recent races.
Norris is much more experienced than his teammate, but the 24-year-old is yet to take control at McLaren and force Piastri into supporting him in his battle for the world championship.
The pair almost collided on the opening lap of the Italian Grand Prix as Piastri swept around the outside at Della Roggia.
This overtake sparked a debate around team orders at McLaren as Norris didn’t take full advantage of the championship leader Max Verstappen’s lacklustre weekend.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella indicated that McLaren favours Norris during the final eight races. The Italian also reminded Piastri that the support he gives to his teammate would be seen as an ‘investment’ when RacingNews365 asked.
Andrea Stella believes that Oscar Piastri is ‘the future’ of McLaren
Piastri has been driving brilliantly this season and is consistently getting closer to his teammate’s level at McLaren.
The Australian has developed his race pace and Piastri took a superb victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix amid a tense scenario at McLaren surrounding team orders.
Piastri’s bold move around the outside of his teammate at Monza before both drivers were reminded of ‘papaya rules’ indicated that he isn’t interested in solely assisting Norris’ championship challenge.
Stella says that Norris winning the championship would lift the team, including Piastri, and the Australian needs to think ahead and support his teammate.
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He said: “I think if the things we say [to Oscar] are sensible and according to the principles like fairness, because if you support your team-mate in winning the championship, it is a big boost [then he will react well].
“It is a benefit, a big boost for the whole team, even if he is the other driver because we can’t forget that Oscar is in the middle of his second season in Formula 1
“The future is Oscar, and he needs to make sure that when it is the time to support, the support he will give to the team or to Lando is an investment.”
McLaren need to make a decision quickly and capitalise on Red Bull’s poor form in F1
McLaren have been consistently quicker than Red Bull over the past few races and have reduced the Austrian team’s advantage in the Constructors’ Championship to just eight points.
The reigning champions haven’t won a race since the Spanish Grand Prix in June and are having to deal with an increasingly frustrated Verstappen.
McLaren need to take advantage of their extra pace if they are to beat Red Bull for the Constructors’ title. Their former driver Juan Pablo Montoya has also pushed McLaren to back Norris as he fights Verstappen for the Drivers’ title.
Putting more focus on the British driver may assist him in closing Verstappen’s points lead, but Piastri isn’t consistently slower. He was also the quicker of the two McLarens at the Italian Grand Prix on pure pace.
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