Things got heated on the McLaren team radio in Budapest, and Nico Rosberg had a lot to say about it.
- Rosberg believes McLaren’s instructions left too much room for interpretation.
- Andrea Stella, McLaren’s boss, agrees with Rosberg’s advice to tighten up their team orders.
- Lando Norris’ hesitation in yielding his position to teammate Oscar Piastri caused quite a stir.
- In the end, clearer communication could be key to avoiding future misunderstandings.
Nico Rosberg didn’t hold back after the recent race in Budapest, where he had some strong words for McLaren. He felt that the team’s instructions to Lando Norris were too vague, leaving him too much leeway. According to Rosberg, the phrase “at your convenience” gave Norris the opportunity to delay complying with team orders, which caused frustration.
As the final laps wound down, Norris seemed to ignore requests to let teammate Oscar Piastri pass. This situation, Rosberg argued, was exacerbated by the unclear messages from Norris’ race engineer, Will Joseph. Rosberg’s advice was clear: be more direct. “You need to be extremely clear and firm,” he said. Vague instructions can lead to drivers exploiting gray areas.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team boss, appeared to agree with Rosberg’s assessment. He acknowledged that they need to be more precise in their communication, stating the team would “make good use” of the recommendation. Stella also faced questions about the radio messages sent to Norris but maintained confidence that Norris would eventually comply.
Stella emphasized that the team has a shared approach to racing, highlighting their collaboration. He stated that drivers need to support the team’s trajectory, which was reinforced in their meetings. “We are extremely pleased with our drivers,” Stella noted, stressing the importance of unity within the team.
Norris’ reluctance to yield his position sparked debate, but Stella defended his driver, noting that it’s in a racer’s nature to want to hold their lead. He expressed that he would be more troubled if Norris had easily given up his spot without a fight. This competitive spirit, Stella suggested, is crucial for their championship aspirations.
Clearer communication could be the solution to McLaren’s team order challenges.
Source: Planetf1
