McLaren’s recent performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix left many fans scratching their heads.
Even though McLaren clinched a spectacular 1-2 finish, the path to victory was anything but smooth. It all boiled down to a controversial team order that caused a bit of a stir. The decision to pit Lando Norris first during the final round of stops handed him the lead over teammate Oscar Piastri. When Piastri finally pitted two laps later, he found himself behind Norris, sparking a heated exchange between the pitwall and Norris.
Norris eventually surrendered the lead with two laps to go, but not without expressing his frustration. “I feel like we made things way too hard for ourselves and way too tricky for ourselves. We should have just boxed Oscar first and things would have been simple, but they gave me the lead and I gave it back,” he said. Piastri added that the strategy was primarily to cover rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, and it might have complicated matters unnecessarily. “I’m sure it’s something we’ll discuss as a team,” Piastri noted.
Team principal Andrea Stella explained that the team was focused on ensuring a 1-2 finish, even if it meant temporarily putting their cars in the ‘wrong’ order. McLaren chose to pit Norris first because Hamilton was closing in with fresh tires, and any delay or mistake could have jeopardized their positions. “We didn’t want to pit too early. The tires were degrading a lot, and we didn’t want to run out of tires should Verstappen become a problem at the end of the race. Therefore, we just wanted to delay the pitstop as much as possible,” Stella stated.
Stella also emphasized that any potential issues during the pit stops required cautious planning. By pitting Norris when they did, they avoided the risk of him coming out behind Hamilton. McLaren was juggling several variables, including tire wear and the challenging track conditions that made overtaking difficult. “I’d rather take the responsibility at the pitwall to secure the P1, P2. And then we manage the situation between the pitwall and the drivers. Because we talk about this situation. And we know how we go about this situation,” Stella explained.
Pitting Piastri first could have given an advantage to Verstappen and Red Bull, complicating McLaren’s strategy even further. Therefore, the decision to pit Norris first was aimed at protecting their overall race standing. Stella noted that although there are lessons to be learned, the key was to safeguard their 1-2 finish. “It will be arrogant that we take this very positive outcome, and we don’t look at the opportunities to do better,” he said.
Despite the drama, McLaren managed to clinch a remarkable 1-2 finish. It was a complex race filled with strategic maneuvering, and although not everyone may agree with the decisions made, McLaren ensured they came out on top.
In the end, McLaren’s strategy at the Hungarian GP was a balancing act between risk and reward. The team orders and their execution may come under scrutiny, but the ultimate goal—a 1-2 finish—was achieved.
