McLaren System 1 staff 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 really helped Piastri in Baku.
Having began fifteenth on the more durable 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 lower 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 staff principal Stella felt Norris’ actions might effectively have been key to Piastri profitable the race, as dropping behind Perez would have robbed the Australian of the prospect to cross Leclerc earlier than his tyres began fading an excessive amount of in soiled air.
Sergio Perez, Pink Bull Racing RB20
Photograph by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Pictures
“Perez was undercutting and successfully, with out Lando’s assist Perez may have pitted [and stayed] forward of Oscar, and the race may have unfolded in a very totally different approach,” Stella stated.
“So, I believe 50% of Oscar’s victory immediately is shared with Lando and it simply reveals that we’re approaching racing as one staff. We had conversations earlier than the weekend the place we might bias somehow. However we method each weekend attempting to maximise the outcome for the staff, and if one driver wants assist, the opposite driver will do it.”
Stella admitted he first thought Piastri’s hair-raising cross on Leclerc in Flip 1 would find yourself within the run-off space.
“After I watched it stay and I noticed him going, my intuition stated 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 stunned. However Oscar is all the time stunning us together with his potential, and I might say immediately, he gave additionally an illustration of his psychological energy.
“He drove like a driver that has a variety of expertise, that has been underneath 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 staff rejoice in Parc Ferme
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Pictures
Poignantly, Piastri’s win and Norris’ robust 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 undoubtedly big,” Stella added. “As a result of we do not have to neglect that we have been final once we began final season, and now we lead the classification.
“That has been doable due to the onerous work, and the standard of the work of your entire staff, the help from our shareholders, our companions, the followers – you obtain this since you obtain it collectively.”
A small value to pay for McLaren’s Baku success was a 5000 euro advantageous for a few of its crew members heading in direction of parc ferme to rejoice earlier than the tip of the race, which was penalised by the stewards.
