McLaren investigation into Qatar GP blunder launched as Max Verstappen threat grows | F1 | Sport
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has promised an internal team review into the strategy decision that cost Oscar Piastri victory at the Qatar Grand Prix last weekend. The Woking-based squad threw away a double podium opportunity, giving Max Verstappen a clear run to take maximum points.
The strategy decision in question was taken during an early safety car after Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly collided on lap seven. The rest of McLaren’s competitors came in for fresh Pirelli rubber, locking them into another pit stop on lap 32.
Stella’s squad, however, kept both cars out, and while they demonstrated strong pace after the restart, Verstappen lined up in third and stayed in touch, keeping him within comfortable range to win the race as McLaren’s stops played out.
The end result was a 12-point swing in the World Championship, with Lando Norris now just 12 points ahead of Verstappen heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi after finishing fourth. Piastri, meanwhile, is 16 points behind his team-mate with one race remaining.
With no margin for error this weekend in Abu Dhabi, McLaren are investigating the blunder. “I think in terms of the misjudgement, [it] is something that we will have to review, discussing internally,” Stella said.
“We’ll have to assess some factors, like for instance whether there was a certain bias in the way we were thinking that led us as a group to think that not all cars necessarily would have pitted. We will have to go through the review in a very thorough way, but what’s important is that we do it as usual in a way that is constructive, is analytical.”
The Italian then added: “We are disappointed. But, if anything, as soon as we start the review, we will get even more determined to learn our lessons, adapt and be stronger as a team and make sure that this phenomenal, beautiful opportunity that we have to compete for the drivers’ championship and be the ones that actually stop Verstappen’s dominance in this period of Formula One.
“We want to face it at the best of ourselves. I’m looking forward to the next race and I’m looking forward to seeing a strong reaction from our team.”
Despite the looming threat of Verstappen heading into Sunday’s desert battle, McLaren will not throw their weight behind Norris’ title bid and use Piastri in a support role. Stella and Zak Brown have remained committed to unwavering equal treatment for their drivers, no matter the extent of Red Bull’s challenge.
