Verstappen has forced Stella to consider breaking cardinal papaya rule

19:29, 02 Dec

Updated: 19:39, 02 Dec

1 Comments

byNorberto Mujica

Max Verstappen is now 12 points shy of his fifth consecutive world title.

"We will let the drivers be in condition to race each other, but above all what's important for us is that we are in condition to beat Verstappen with one of our two drivers."

- Andrea Stella

Oscar Piastri enters the season finale 16 points behind teammate and leader in the Standings Lando Norris. Photo: RacePictures.

So a bigger threat to McLaren's aspiration of clinching a double world title has never been more present after the Dutch driver managed to capitalise on McLaren's pit stop gamble that went awry in Qatar.

Lando Norris heads into Abu Dhabi with the pressure of taking the title, fully on his shoulders in the season finale. All he needs is a P3.

For the other McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, the situation is a bit more complicated as 16 points separate him from a potential maiden title, which would require him to outscore Norris by 17 points and Verstappen by 5.

After the strategy mix-up that the Australian McLaren driver felt cost him the win, Stella has been put in the awkward position of contemplating breaching an internal McLaren rule: Using team orders against one of their drivers to ensure the title is won by a McLaren man.

Stella admits title bids have wobbled due to McLaren's mistakes

"Well, the first element to focus on from a team point of view, I would say, is make sure that we are in condition, prepared, determined to execute perfect race weekends," Stella said after the defeat the team suffered in Qatar.

"Because the pace has been in the car, the drivers are doing an exceptionally good job, but over the last couple of races, from a team point of view, we have not been in condition to capitalise on the good work of the drivers and the potential we have in the car," the Italian added in reference to the Las Vegas GP double DSQ and the decision not to use the free pit stop provided by the Safety Car on lap 7 during the race in Doha.

Stella will use team orders to effect title battle if he has to

"When it comes to the fact that we have two drivers in the quest [for] the world championship, our philosophy and our approach will not change. We will leave both Oscar and Lando the possibility to compete and pursue their aspiration.

"Oscar, from a points point of view, is definitely in condition to win the title. We have seen before in the history of Formula One that When you have this kind of situation, sometimes it's the third one that actually wins.

"We've seen it, I think, in 2007, in 2010. And Oscar is fast. I think he deserves to be able to just realize his performance.

"We will let the drivers be in condition to race each other, but above all what's important for us is that we are in condition to beat Verstappen with one of our two drivers," Stella concluded.

The statistic Norris should worry about going into Abu Dhabi

A recent historical trend in Formula 1 could give championship leader a cause for concern: when three or more drivers enter the final race still in title contention, the championship leader often fails to win the crown. Read the full story here.

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