October 18, 2024 · 2:44 pm

Verstappen downplays Red Bull ride height adjuster device

Verstappen says he didn’t know about RBR’s trick device

Max Verstappen has downplayed the controversy over a ride height adjustment device on the Red Bull RB20 – and the Dutchman says that he knew nothing about it until news of an FIA clampdown emerged in the media.

Rivals were alerted to the device when Red Bull was obliged to put some technical information on an open source website that all teams have access to.

It allows adjustment of the bib under the front of the car, and the concern was that Red Bull could change the ride height under parc ferme conditions, which would be against the rules.

However the team insists that it was never used for that purpose.

“Yes, it exists, although it is inaccessible once the car is fully assembled and ready to run,” said an RBR representative.

“In the numerous correspondence we have with the FIA, this part came up and we have agreed a plan going forward.”

Verstappen insisted that the team gained no unfair advantage from it.

“It’s open source, right?,” he said. “Everyone can see it. For us, it was just an easy tool when the parts were off. It was easy to adjust, but once the whole car is built together, you can’t touch it. So for us, it doesn’t change.

“When I read [about] it, I was thinking about other teams doing it, and then I found out it was related to our team. We never even mentioned it in the briefing. So it’s just an easier tool to adjust that.”

McLaren driver Lando Norris downplayed the suggestion that a clampdown would hamper Red Bull and help McLaren.

“I mean, it’s one thing having it on your car,” he said. “It’s another thing on how much you exploit it and use it, which we have no idea on.

“If it has been helping them, if they’ve been utilising it in the way people think they have, then maybe it will shift in our direction.

“But when you talk about things like that, they’re not going to have got several pole positions or wins just because of such a device. I don’t think it really will change anything in the scheme of things.

“But when we look at maybe certain qualifyings and we look at the gap in certain races this year, when it’s been split by hundredths of a second in qualifying or even thousandths, then you might say, ‘OK, well, maybe this has helped in that direction or this direction’.

“But I think it’s good that the FIA are doing such a thing. There’s a difference between black and white stuff like this, and there’s a difference between F1 and pushing the boundaries and creating new things and innovating within the space that you’re allowed to innovate.

“And I think that’s what we as McLaren have done a very good job in. But we’re sure not to go any further than that.”

Meanwhile Oscar Piastri said: “We’re obviously pushing the boundaries of the technical regulations. Everyone is, that’s what makes F1 F1.

“But from what I’ve heard and been told something like this is not pushing the boundaries. It’s clearly breaking them. If it is something that’s being used, it’s clearly not been pushing the boundaries. It’s been out of the grey area and into the black area.”

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October 18, 2024 · 1:54 pm

Verstappen taking F1 title battle from “weekend to weekend”

Verstappen is in the spotlight – but he’s trying to keep the pressure off

Max Verstappen says he is taking the rest of the 2024 Formula 1 season from weekend to weekend and not wasting energy on thinking too much about the big picture of the title battle.

Verstappen also rated his chances of winning as “50-50” heading into the final run of six races.

The Dutchman currently holds a lead of 52 points over rival Lando Norris, with the gap having shrunk over recent races.

After a frustrating Italian GP Verstappen said it was “not realistic” to win the championship if the RB20 didn’t improve.

However the team has built on lessons learned that weekend, and those are reflected in the Austin update package.

“It’s 50-50, yes or no,” he said when asked about his title chances. “I don’t know. I mean, there’s a lot that can go well or can go wrong, in the six races, plus sprint races as well.

“So nothing is guaranteed from both sides. We’ll see. I prefer not really to think ahead too much, and really live from weekend to weekend.”

Asked if that really was his assessment of his chances he said: “It just because you say you win it or not, which is 50-50! So that’s why. I mean, I don’t really like to think about it too much.

“Like I said, I just live from race weekend to race weekend, because otherwise you’re just putting unnecessary thoughts in your head, which also costs energy, which I don’t want to waste. I’m thinking too much about racing.”

Verstappen also rejected the suggestion that he was under pressure over the last six races.

“You could say yes, but I’m not,” he said. “Because I know that when I jump in the car, I try to do the best I can. When the car is capable of good results, I’ll deliver the results.

“And yeah, when it’s not, then it will be a bit more difficult. Of course, naturally, I like to win races and championships. But yeah, if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t, it’s how life is.”

Verstappen said he hasn’t run the update package in the Milton Keynes simulator, an indication perhaps of how recently it was signed off and sent into production.

“I actually didn’t try it,” he said. “So let’s see. We don’t have a lot of time to really test everything, but we’ll see how it goes. To be honest I don’t know at the moment what it will give.

“For sure, we learned a lot from Monza, and this definitely is from the learnings of Monza.”

Asked if it could close the gap to McLaren he said: “If you look at the pace in Singapore, the difference, for sure not. But every track is different.

“We know that Singapore is not our strongest track anyway I don’t expect that it’s going to be completely different, and we are going to be the dominating car.

“We have our limitations a bit with this car already the whole year. Now we’re trying to make it better. But, yeah, don’t expect it to completely swing.”

He admitted that it’s difficult to introduce an update on a sprint weekend with only FP1 in which to test it.

“You rely more on data then, because in one session, it’s very hard,” he said. Because you just start with the car, right? That’s the package, and you try to balance it, try to find the best setup on it.

“And then you rely, of course, on the data. Also from the engineers, if they’re happy with the upgrade or not.”

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October 18, 2024 · 11:15 am

Alonso: US GP upgrade package won’t be “a game changer”

Alonso says the Austin updates won’t for make a dramatic change in form

Fernando Alonso has downplayed the significance of Aston Martin’s update package for the Formula 1 US GP and suggested that new parts won’t be a “game changer” for any team.

The Spaniard says that at this stage of the season it will be hard for any teams to find significant performance with their latest upgrades.

Aston’s Austin package includes a revised floor, and is seen as in part as a preview of the direction that the team is taking for 2025.

“I don’t think expectations can be too high,” he said. “We have some new parts, but I don’t think that it will change the full picture.

“I think this part of the championship, the upgrades are quite small. I think all of them are just also in line to what the 2025 car is looking at the tunnel. So it’s more a half-test, half-performance, introduction.

“And for us, it’s important as keeping the good understanding of the car that I think we started to have after Budapest, and that’s probably the main target for this weekend, try to have a good correlation, and see that all the new parts are doing what we expect from them.

“In terms of performance and positions in qualifying of the race, I don’t think that is going to be a game changer for anybody.”

Asked by this writer how vital it would be to hit the ground running he said: “It’s going to be important.

“Sprint weekends are obviously a little bit more challenging, because you cannot really optimise things, and especially when you bring new parts to the car or something, then you have only that that shot in FP1, and then you commit at least for half of the weekend this year.

“But yeah, starting with the right feeling and confidence in the car will be important. That’s why today’s preparation and meetings are a bit more delicate than any other weekend, trying to get it everything right.”

He added: “After Budapest, we understood some of the directions that we took in the past, and why it was not correlated properly on track, and that package was a good sign on what we wanted to achieve, and this is just a continuation of that.

“So I think we are reasonably optimistic that correlation will be good, and tomorrow we will see what we want to see.

“But in terms of performance, as I said, when you are at this part of the championship, all the gains are very marginal. All the other teams, they are bringing as well.

“So even if you bring one tenth, half a tenth, the other ones, they are bringing half a tenth, one tenth, and you keep in the same position. So I think it’s going to be the case of this weekend.”

He agreed that there is an opportunity for Aston to benefit by getting it right in FP1 while other teams struggle.

“For sure, I think more than the specifics of the upgrades, I think it’s going to be more important to get it right straight away. Because if you bring a performance package of one-tenth and you get it wrong, maybe you lose two compared the previous race.

“And if you bring half a tenth and you exploit everything of that half a tenth, maybe it becomes one-tenth when you put it on track.

“So the difference can be quite big if you get it right or wrong. And we have only one session. So it’s one of those FP1s that you want everything clean.

“Last year, remember, we went out of Q1 because we had a very messy FP1, brake problems. We had fire on the brakes. Lance did I think one installation lap in the whole FP1, I did eight laps, and that compromised the whole weekend. So this is a big focus into this year’s free practice.”

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October 17, 2024 · 7:02 pm

Hulkenberg: No regrets on Audi F1 decision despite Haas/Toyota deal

Hulkenberg is still happy with his decision to join the Audi project

Nico Hulkenberg says he would still opt for a future with the Sauber/Audi Formula 1 project despite now knowing that his current employer Haas has forged a new partnership with Toyota.

Hulkenberg signed to drive for the Hinwil team from 2025 back in April, long before Haas and Toyota discussions began to progress.

The arrangement, announced last week, clearly gives Haas resources that it didn’t previously have, such the ability to have an in-house simulator.

However Hulkenberg insists that his decision to join the Swiss team wouldn’t change if he had to make it today, despite Sauber’s failure to score a point this season.

“No, it wouldn’t,” he said. “I mean look end of last year, where we were, and how we started this year, how fast of a turnaround it can be. And things can change so fast in F1, it’s so dynamic.

“I’ve seen it here with Haas and experienced it first hand, how quickly it can improve and be better. And there’s no reason why my next year’s team couldn’t do the same.”

Asked if he was sad to be leaving Haas just as the Toyota deal begins he said: “Sad, but not because of that. I like the team, by the end I’ve spent two years here, and it’s been a very happy two years, very positive. And I’ve really enjoyed myself.

“But obviously, I made a conscious decision early in the year, now quite some time ago already, to pursue a different opportunity. One that is very exciting, very big, big challenge, a big job.

“Am I going to be sad to leave here and then not work with some people? Yes, but that’s life, and that’s motorsport.”

Like rivals Haas has an update package for Austin, which the team hopes will give it a boost as it tries to beat RB to sixth in the World Championship.

“When teams bring updates, it’s always important and crucial for them to get a read on them, to understand them, to get the correlation readings, to see do they perform?,” he said. “Are they doing what they’re supposed to do and intended to do? We have six races to go, as we all know, and the race is on, the fight in the championship.

“But I think we’re in good shape. We’ve had some strong showings and performances recently, the atmosphere and the team is very good. And in general, we’ve had a pretty good year already.

“And to some extent, I feel the other teams that we’re fighting in the midfield, they have probably a bit more to lose than us. We’re coming from ‘p-last,’ and doing pretty well.

“Big recovery so far this year, which doesn’t mean, you know, we’re going to stop. Obviously, we’re going we’ll push on until the very end, and then fight for that P6.”

Hulkenberg expects that he and team mate Kevin Magnussen will start the weekend with different specs in FP1.

“We’re going to split a little bit. I’m not entirely sure yet of the details how we’re going to run it, but I think we want to cross compare for correlation and understanding.”

Regarding the scale of the latest update he said: “Silverstone was the biggest, and I don’t expect it to be the same magnitude.

“That’s at least also what the numbers suggest. But there’s always that element of having to run it on track and see what it actually does.”

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October 17, 2024 · 6:45 pm

Bottas still awaiting call on Audi/Sauber future as “odd situation” continues

Bottas remains optimistic about staying with Sauber

Valtteri Bottas is still waiting a call on his future in the Sauber/Audi Formula 1 team camp, but the Finn remains positive in the face of what he calls an “odd situation.”

Bottas was hoping that a decision on who partners Nico Hulkenberg from 2025 would be taken before this weekend’s US GP.

However team boss Mattia Binotto is still weighing up the pros and cons of either keeping Bottas or taking a young driver, with Gabriel Bortoleto the favourite should the call favour youth.

“I think I mentioned that I was hoping before Austin to be sorted, but I’m still waiting for the final decisions,” said Bottas. “And I think that question is more for Mattia to answer, rather than me. I’ve got the message that there’s nothing I can do at the moment.

“It’s not in my hands. So of course, I’m trying to perform the best I can this week, and hope that will boost things up. But that’s what we are.”

He added: “The situation I’m in now, with only one seat available, of course, that there is a risk. I love F1, and I want to race in F1. So naturally, it’s a bit of an odd situation, but that’s where we are.

“And, yeah, I’ve had lots of time to think about different things, but still, I’m always positive. I will stay positive. And because I really, I feel and believe that I should be in that seat, I feel like I would be best for the interest of the team.

“So that’s why I’m staying positive. And like I said, not much more I can do now, other than performing on the track, and working hard with the team.”

Bottas is hoping that a decision doesn’t take too long.

“Well, one month ago, it was as soon as possible!,” he said. “Of course from my side, eventually there will be a deadline as well, because even then, looking outside of F1, or other roles in F1, soon it’s Christmas, and then when it comes to Christmas, there’s not much availability anywhere. So, yeah, hopefully, soon.

“I am positive. I have been all the time, but until pen hits the paper, you can’t get too confident. But honestly, I’m still positive. So yeah, just a shame that it’s a bit of the wait.

“They obviously have options, but in the end, it’s going to come down to experience versus youth. So they have all the time in the world unless at some point I need to set a hard deadline.”

Bottas insisted that a deal had been agreed in principle should he be chosen, and that there is no longer a discussion about money or contract terms.

“We’ve been in in touch on a weekly basis. And I know the terms that I’m up for, and just basically waiting for the green light.

“I think the terms we’re talking about, they are like they should be, and I think Audi should have the budget. At least that’s the word out there!”

Meanwhile having had the slowest car in the field in recent weeks Sauber has some updates for Austin.

“Actually, a few things,” said Bottas. “We’ve got a new rear suspension, new front wing, I think front suspension fairings. So it’s going to be a busy practice session before the sprint quali, and we’re hoping for an improvement.”

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October 17, 2024 · 2:44 pm

Crawford set for first run in Aston Martin AMR24 in Abu Dhabi test

Crawford will drive the AMR24 in Abu Dhabi

Aston Martin Formula 1 development driver Jak Crawford is to drive the AMR24 for the first time in the Abu Dhabi young driver test.

The American’s deal with the team has always included the end-of-season running, but matters were complicated by discussions over the addition of a rookie sprint event, with the team’s longtime reserve Felipe Drugovich the obvious candidate to do the race.

There was even a suggestion that they would split the day, with Crawford testing and Drugovich doing the qualifying session and sprint, although it’s understood that the FIA wanted to have the same driver stay in the car.

However in the end the sprint was abandoned, leaving the team to run Crawford for the full day as planned.

Crawford, who is currently lying fifth in the FIA F2 championship, has already had some TPC running in the AMR22 in Austria.

“I’ve spent lots of hours on the simulator back at the AMR Technology Campus, and I will be continuing this ahead of the test to make sure I am well prepared,” said Crawford.

“Yas Marina is a circuit I know well, so hopefully this will help me get up to speed quickly. I would like to say a big thanks to everyone at Aston Martin Aramco for the chance to drive this year’s car in the test.” 

Team boss Mike Krack said of Crawford: “He’s already shown a high level of understanding in previous tests with us this year and I know he will be working hard in preparation for the test alongside competing in the final two rounds of the F2 Championship.”

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October 11, 2024 · 8:17 am

Komatsu: “Perfect combination” of Haas and Toyota won’t impact Ferrari deal

Komatsu with with Akio Toyoda and TGR boss Tomoya Takahashi

Haas Formula 1 boss Ayao Komatsu says that the new collaboration with Toyota is a “perfect combination” that won’t impact the current arrangements with Ferrari.

Haas has signed a technical partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing that starts immediately, with TGR logos on the car at the upcoming US GP.

While few details have been given on what the new deal involves will involve as initial steps Toyota will help Haas to install a simulator at its Banbury base.

It will provide the resources for a TPC programme that will see the 2023 car next season used for private testing that will allow Toyota to give its young drivers some F1 mileage.

Both parties insist that there are no plans for Toyota to eventually develop its own power unit.

“We are the smallest team on the grid and we’re lacking certain resources and hardware capability to understand certain things,” said Komatsu.

“And then in terms of being more competitive in the midfield, we are looking for somebody who can give us more resources, that horsepower, and also have the hardware and the know-how to use that hardware.

“And Toyota Gazoo Racing gives exactly that. They have a great facility in Cologne, so we will be able to utilise that also.

“F1 is a high technology sport, but really what matters is people, personnel. So we both would like to educate, trying develop our personnel in a F1 environment to be a mutual benefit to each other.

“So lots of let’s say objectives that are coherent in each other’s organisations. So that’s why that was the key in deciding to go for this technical partnership.”

Regarding the first steps he said: “We’ll be able to kick off some activities such as simulator and TPC with this collaboration.

“And then our, let’s say, for our mutual benefit, they are looking for, let’s say latest know-how or skill set, which we have. But we don’t have their facilities, we don’t have the number of people, their resource.

“So that’s how we are tapping into each other’s expertise, and then learning in the areas that we are weak relative to each other. So it’s really sort of like perfect combination to have the mutual benefit.”

Komatsu insists that the new arrangement has no impact on the existing Haas deal with Ferrari, which currently extends to 2028.

He also kept Fred Vasseur fully informed about the discussions with Toyota.

“Our partnership with Toyota, just to be clear, it’s not to replace the Ferrari partnership,” he said.

“The Ferrari/Haas partnership is the foundation, and it’s always going to be the foundation, and this partnership is not to take away from it, but actually enhance the fundamental partnership with Ferrari.

“What we have with Ferrari, what we get from Ferrari, is amazing. That’s really the foundation of Haas F1 team. But the areas Toyota TGR can help us are outside of that.

“Again, we’ve been completely transparent with Ferrari management, of course, from the early stage of this discussion.

“So we both have a clear understanding of what engagement we have in which area with TGR, how we need to protect the IPs over the each company. So that’s how we are planning to do it.”

He confirmed that Haas will still work in the Ferrari wind tunnel, and that design work will continue to be based in Italy.

“Of course, we need the Maranello design office, because nothing changes the fact that we are going to be buying a gearbox and suspension from Ferrari,” he said.

“So to that extent, it makes sense to have our DO in Maranello. We’ll continue to use the Ferrari wind tunnel, so our aerodynamicists will continue to be based there.

“But for instance, we will start designing some other carbon composite parts by ourselves, and then also starting some testing, and then simulator work, some other areas that contribute to the performance of the car.

“Where we house them exactly, whether it’s in Maranello or the UK, is something we need to define in the future. But again, I just like to stress that it’s not to replace what we have with Ferrari.”

Regarding chassis manufacturer Dallara he added: “Dallara is our important partner. They’ve been with us from day one. As you know, they’ve been building our chassis from day one. So that’s another key, important relationship.

“And then again in due course we’ll be discussing which parameters will keep working with Dallara, which parameters we’re going to work with Toyota, but we will co-exist. It’s not to replace one another.”

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October 10, 2024 · 6:12 pm

Komatsu: Haas F1 team must “get on top” of latest updates in Austin

Komatsu hopes that Haas will quickly optimise its update package for Austin

Haas Formula 1 boss Ayao Komatsu stresses that it’s important for the team to make progress with its latest update package from early in the US GP weekend.

All teams are expected to bring upgrades of varying degrees to Austin, and they face the challenge of having only FP1 in which to test them before heading straight into qualifying for the sprint event.

However under the 2024 regs after the sprint and before qualifying for the main race teams have a chance to change set-up and potentially swap between new and old parts.

Komatsu admits that if the updates don’t work as planned straight away the option is there to take them off.

“In Austin we’ve got stuff coming,” he told this writer.  “So we’re focused on just making sure we get on top of that quickly.

“And then if it doesn’t work, we’ve got to be honest with ourselves and roll it back. I hope it works. I think it will work, but there’s no guarantee.

“I’m concentrating on our team, I cannot control if say Alpine is going to be suddenly competitive at one race. Like in Barcelona, we were good, but annoyingly, Alpine was even better than us. You can’t control that.”

Komatsu conceded that the team has the option to run different specs on each car in an attempt to find the optimum.

“We need to finalise the discussion,” he said. “Yes, we can, but whether we want to do that or not is another matter. If we split the cars for a sprint weekend, we get amazing data from the sprint race. So then we can make actually a very good judgment for the main race.”

Komatsu cited the points situation as a good reason to use the sprint as a test session for the Grand Prix, where potentially more is on offer to those outside the top four teams: “We’ve got to assume we cannot score points in the sprint, and in the main race,  you’ve got to assume it’s only one or two points available.

“So I said to my guys three races ago it’s eight races to go, and we’ve got to be scoring one point every race. It’s good that we are there or thereabouts.”

Komatsu is confident that the team has demonstrated that it can improve the VF-24 over a weekend, citing the recent races in Azerbaijan and Singapore as examples of how that was achieved after a difficult start on Friday.

“This FP1, FP2, FP3 thing, it’s always up and down,” he said. “So it’s really trying to focus on chipping away on our side, which I think we’ve done very well in Baku, and I think we’ve done very well in Singapore as well.

“Both races neither driver was happy with the car in FP1, which has got something to say about our lack of ability to put the car competitively straight away. But the reaction from that at both events, I’m really proud of our guys.

“We weren’t very happy, but then FP1 to FP2 we made a very good step considering, because sometimes if you have a knee-jerk reaction, you can be out of sync with track evolution.

“Baku and Singapore, with street circuit evolution always high, and on top of that track temperature difference, five, six degrees, that makes a difference as well.

“So you’ve got to stay calm, and take a mature approach to chip away, so that you are still in sync with track evolution. You can get it wrong so easily. But I’m very happy that we managed to do that correctly.”

Regarding Nico Hulkenberg’s P6 in Singapore qualifying he added: “We improved the car from FP1, and then the drivers, they were better as well, because they didn’t panic from FP1 either. And then in terms of operation, Q1, Q2, Q3, from our plan with track evolution etcetera, it was perfect, and we executed exactly how we needed to execute.

“So after that qualifying session, I was so happy. It was not just the position, P6, it just proved to us that we can put that together – this is what we can achieve.”

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October 10, 2024 · 1:46 pm

Haas: Outscoring RB and Williams is “our primary objective”

Haas boss Komatsu says outscoring RB and Williams is the priority

Haas Formula 1 boss Ayao Komatsu stresses that the team’s “primary objective” in the remaining six race weekends is to outscore championship rivals RB and Williams.

An example of that focus was seen in Singapore, where Haas didn’t react to Fernando Alonso pitting while the Spaniard was battling with Nico Hulkenberg.

By staying out Hulkenberg lost an overall position to the Aston Martin driver. However he also ensured that he ultimately finished in a safe ninth place, while Franco Colapinto and Yuki Tsunoda were out of the points in 11th and 12th respectively.

The result meant that Haas cut the gap to sixth-placed RB from five to three points, while extending its advantage over Williams to 15.

“Just to avoid any confusion or unnecessary discussion in real time we just said to ourselves our race is against RB and Williams,” Komatsu told this writer.

“We’ve got to take points away from RB. That’s the primary aim. And secondary is points away from Williams.

“So we thought, are we racing again Alonso? If he tries to undercut us, are we going to do it? Our philosophy was, no. It was good communication and alignment.

“The thing is because of the safety car risk, if we tried to cover Alonso, pit early, and then two laps later the safety car comes, Williams can take points away from us. That was the worst scenario.

“The situation was made simpler by Albon and Tsunoda being out of the equation very early on, so were we only looking at Colapinto.

“We knew that Alonso was pitting. And we knew that if we pit now, he’s going come in between Stroll and Gasly, we’re going to be the same. Do we want to do that? We could have done it, but then again, there’s a safety car risk in Singapore.

“If it was a more normal circuit of course we would have done it. Nothing happened, but in previous years it’s been 100% safety car at some point. So it’s just how to manage that risk, and what’s our primary objective is.

“By not fighting Alonso, we lost two points, yes it’s true. But at least we just made the alignment.”

Komatsu stressed that Haas cannot take anything for granted as a high attrition race could open up the points position for any of the teams outside the big four.

“The thing is you only have to look at the Baku race, where Williams scored 10 points,” said Komatsu.

“And we scored 12 points in Austria. So any of us can score 10-12 points if something happens in front. So for Williams to be 13 points behind us is not comfortable. And they’re quick.

“We cut the gap to RB, we extended the gap to Williams. So now with six races to go we are three points behind RB, 15, ahead of the Williams. So again, in terms of primary objective, that’s achieved.”

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October 1, 2024 · 3:56 pm

Stella downplays impact of Norris start issues

Norris has had some difficult first laps in 2024

McLaren Formula 1 boss Andrea Stella has downplayed the damage caused to Lando Norris’s title campaign by poor starts.

Norris has lost ground on the first lap several times this season when starting from pole position.

That streak finally ended in Singapore, when he retained the lead at the end of the first lap.

Stella says that McLaren has taken a close look at starts this season and concluded that Norris couldn’t have done any better.

“I don’t disagree that at face value starts and overall approach to the first corner of first lap might have looked like an opportunity for Lando,” he said.

“But having done a little bit of analysis as a group, including Lando, we have gone through the season, every single start, and every single first lap.

“And in fairness, we haven’t found that even in cases in which Lando started in pole position and he was not P1 at the end of the first lap, he had kind of given up very much in terms of performance.

“We reviewed Barcelona, and we thought that Russell would have been P1 even with Lando trying something different.”

Stella acknowledged that the issue at the Dutch GP, where both McLaren drivers lost a position, was down to a team choice.

“There were some opportunities in terms of execution of the start, but we recognised that that was also on the team side,” he said.

“For instance, I think it was Zandvoort, the one in which both cars had old tyres because of an issue from a team point of view, and both cars didn’t have great a great start. So I think while at face value, it looked like Lando had a significant opportunity there, actually the facts weren’t so clear.

“But definitely we have been focusing on the execution of the start and preparation of the tyres, Lando himself, even the time we focus on start preparation during a weekend is now more concentrated.”

Stella said that Norris is now more used to starting from pole: “You gain confidence, and you gain familiarity with starting from pole position and understanding, even in terms of territorial defence, what you need to do, even to dissuade people for going.

“So I think this is part of the journey, and it’s just good that we are now having to face this kind of opportunity.”

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