The British Grand Prix at Silverstone promised a thrilling race for McLaren fans, but it quickly turned into a challenging story of ‘what could have been.’ Andrea Stella, McLaren’s Team Principal, has openly reflected on the critical strategic errors that transformed a potential victory into mere podium finishes for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
The Initial Triumph
In the opening phases of the race, McLaren drivers soared, notably Lando Norris, who overtook key competitors such as Max Verstappen, George Russell, and Lewis Hamilton to take the lead. Oscar Piastri wasn’t far behind, making it a McLaren one-two that jolted the audience with excitement and promise.
However, dark clouds—both literal and figurative—loomed on the horizon. With rain approaching, the need for tire changes became evident. Here’s where the team’s strategy found itself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Critical Strategy Calls
Amidst the increasing rain, the decision-making process regarding tire changes became crucial. While Norris pitted for intermediate tires along with most competitors, Piastri stayed out on the track. The team aimed to avoid the time lost from double-stacking both cars in the pits but inadvertently cost Piastri valuable seconds.
Norris seemed to hold strong for a while, leading most of the race. However, in the final stages, the strategy took another twist. Norris pitted later than his direct rivals, Hamilton and Verstappen, to switch to slick tires. While Norris and Hamilton opted for soft compounds, Verstappen went for the hard tires, setting the stage for a gripping final act.
The Slip-ups in the Final Lap
Post pit-stop switch, Norris found himself behind Hamilton due to a slightly delayed stop and was soon overtaken by Verstappen. The result? A third-place finish for Norris and a fourth for Piastri. The team’s decision to go on soft tires backfired as they faced degradation, and even though Hamilton made his soft tires last, the same could not be said for Norris.
Reflecting on the Race
Reflecting on the race, Stella admitted that opting for a double stack during the first round of stops would have been the wiser decision, despite concerns over losing time. The McLaren team principal acknowledged that sometimes patience is a virtue and avoiding 'greedy' decisions is crucial.
Stella highlighted a critical learning point: “I think Oscar would have been in a really strong position, at least as strong as Lando in terms of opportunities to win the race.”
Accepting Responsibility
Stella didn’t shy away from accepting responsibility for the strategic errors. In discussing Norris’ last pit stop, he reiterated that pitting simultaneously with rivals Hamilton and Verstappen would have been ideal.
“We thought that with one lap more we could still keep the lead,” Stella noted, showing the inherent risks and sometimes misplaced optimism involved in split-second decision-making.
Furthermore, he acknowledged that opting for soft tires may not have been the best choice.
The Medium Tyre Debate
The discussion around whether to use medium tires also came into play. Stella noted that the medium compound was initially considered tricky to manage on the drying track, but upon reflection, it appeared manageable. Verstappen had made his hard tires work seamlessly, showing that McLaren’s self-doubt might have led them astray.
Ultimately, Stella emphasized that the responsibility for these critical calls rests with the team’s strategists, not the drivers.
Looking Forward
Despite the setbacks at Silverstone, Stella remains optimistic. He cites the team’s ability to put both cars in strong positions—both competitively challenging Red Bulls and overtaking Mercedes—as significant positives.
In concluding his insights, Stella accentuated the importance of continual learning and adaptation: “As part of the positives, I think the team are working very well, and when you race for the front positions, it just becomes much more visible when you still have some work to do.”
For McLaren, the British Grand Prix may serve as a touchstone for future races—highlighting not just the need for speed but also for impeccable and astute strategic decisions.