McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has expressed satisfaction with the continued harmony between drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, following their intense championship battle last season. Despite the fierce competition, Stella emphasised that the relationship between the two drivers, as well as with the team, has grown even stronger over recent months.
Last year, Norris clinched his first world title, overcoming Piastri who had held a 34-point advantage with nine races remaining. The contest also involved Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, making for a dramatic season finale. This rivalry tested McLaren’s internal team regulations, known as the ‘papaya rules’, designed to maintain fairness between their title contenders.
With the introduction of new technical regulations this season, McLaren has struggled to replicate its previous form, as Mercedes and Ferrari have taken the lead in performance. However, Stella commended the drivers’ efforts during this challenging period and highlighted Piastri’s increased reliance on the team for his development, both on and off the track.
READ MORE: Bath Rugby to accelerate redevelopment of The Rec but final home games moved elsewhere
Currently, Mercedes leads the 2026 season with young Italian driver Kimi Antonelli securing six victories and a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton, while George Russell is a further nine points behind. Norris stands in fifth place, 91 points adrift of the leader, but he secured his first win of the season in Hungary prior to the summer break, signalling promising progress for McLaren.
Stella is determined to build on this momentum and remains optimistic about their prospects. “If we can continue the season as we did in Budapest, I think we can still achieve a great deal,” he stated. He emphasised the need to accelerate development and outpace rivals, noting that 12 races remain with 546 points available.
Acknowledging the current championship gap, Stella referenced last year’s experience as motivation. He concluded, “I always tell the team that if we’ve set up a new display cabinet to house the recent trophies at the McLaren Technology Centre, then we have a duty to do our utmost to keep filling it.”