McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has drawn attention to Max Verstappen’s driving style as a critical factor in the collision with Lando Norris at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The crash, which resulted in punctures for both drivers, saw Verstappen charged with a 10-second penalty by the stewards, marking him solely responsible for the mishap. The incident opened the door for George Russell, who took advantage of the situation to inherit the lead and secure a notable victory at the Red Bull Ring.
Driving Style Under Scrutiny
Stella was candid in his remarks, emphasizing that Verstappen’s aggressive maneuvers were not a one-off occurrence. "The entire population of the world knows who was responsible except for a group of people," Stella remarked, referring to the stewards' decision.
Drawing parallels to Verstappen's contentious title battle with Lewis Hamilton in 2021, Stella expressed frustration over what he perceives as consistent leniency from the regulating body. "If you don't address these things honestly, they will come back. They weren't addressed properly in the past when there were fights with Lewis that needed to be punished in a harsher way," he asserted.
Call for Regulatory Reinforcement
Stella did not limit his criticism to the on-track events alone but extended it to the broader framework of regulatory enforcement in Formula 1. He highlighted the need for clear boundaries and decisive action from the FIA to curb what he sees as recurrent misconduct. "The regulations must be enforced in a way that is effective. When a car is out of the race, as a consequence, then the punishment needs to be proportionate to the outcome," Stella emphasized.
He pointed out that Verstappen had engaged in questionable actions even before the race. "Before this episode, twice he moved in braking. It is evident that we have to enforce the way to go racing," he noted, underlining a pattern he feels has not been adequately addressed.
Consequences for McLaren and the Sport
The immediate fallout from the incident was significant for McLaren and Norris. The team lost a substantial number of points and a potential victory. "For us, there's a lot of points gone. And a victory which I think Lando deserved to have the opportunity to have," Stella lamented. He further reiterated his desire for a cleaner, fairer sport, stating, "It could have been Max, it could have been Lando. That's racing. But racing like with collisions, we don't like it."
Opportunity for Improvement
The McLaren chief remains hopeful that this incident could serve as a wake-up call for the sport to improve its governance. "In every kind of human dynamics, if you don't address things, as soon as you introduce competition, as soon as you introduce a sense of injustice, these things escalate. It's like anything," Stella observed, suggesting that unresolved issues from past seasons had not just lingered but intensified.
Stella sees the Austrian GP incident as a chance for the FIA to reassess its approach. "Here there was incomplete job, let's say, that comes from the past, and is a legacy that as soon as there was a trigger, immediately there is an outburst," he noted. He proposed a tightening of the rules, ensuring they cannot be "abused in a way that then leaves a margin to do a couple of times the same manoeuvre, and you know the third time there is going to be an accident."
In summary, while the incident at the Austrian Grand Prix has resulted in immediate setbacks for McLaren and Lando Norris, Stella remains focused on the broader implications. He calls for a more robust regulatory framework to ensure such episodes do not recur, advocating for a future of racing marked by greater safety, fairness, and clarity.