McLaren chief defends Japanese GP strategy: “Not possible to overtake”

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has addressed questions surrounding the Woking outfit’s strategy during the Japanese Grand Prix.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen managed to clinch the victory at Suzuka after fending off the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. 

McLaren attempted to throw off the Milton Keynes squad with a call to bring Norris into the pits on lap 19 only to quickly follow it up with instructions for the current championship leader to stay out. Unfortunately for McLaren, this didn’t pay dividends, and they weren’t able to capitalise either on an undercut or an overcut.

In the closing laps of the race, Piastri closed in on his team-mate and requested a chance to challenge Verstappen. However, no team orders were called.

Stella explained to Sky Sports following the race that it would have been difficult to threaten Verstappen with the Dutchman starting from pole position. He explained:

“The race was mostly decided yesterday. There wasn’t much action going on in the race and we ended up with the same result as qualifying.

“We got a lot of points [with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on the podium] and so it was encouraging again for our car but the others are not far behind and sometimes ahead.”

Commenting on the strategy, Stella also noted that an overcut would not have benefited them. He added:

“We saw that staying out would not have been faster than pitting.

“We saw that from [Mercedes’] George Russell, who was fast on the hard tyres after pitting.

“It takes about eight-tenths of a second to attack the car ahead. As soon as you get within one second you have dirty air and performance drops.

“Today I think it was not possible to overtake.”

Piastri also commented on the situation, admitting he “felt I had the track position.” He explained:

“Yes, I think [our fate was sealed yesterday in qualifying]. The pace was good, I was very happy with that and we got close a few times.

“But the track position around here is so important. Yesterday was the day you win the race and [we] didn’t do a good enough job.

“I felt if I had the track position I could go and get Max but that is what happens when you qualify behind.”