Motorsport photoLydia MeeSun, November 30, 2025 at 6:40 PM UTC·7 min readMcLaren team principal Andrea Stella has confirmed that the Woking outfit will continue with its approach of giving Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri equal treatment in the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The Qatar Grand Prix ended with Piastri finishing in second behind Max Verstappen after starting from pole position, and Lando Norris missed out on a podium with a fourth-place finish after starting from second.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile Norris lost a position to Verstappen at the start of the race, it was McLaren's decision not to pit either driver when the safety car was deployed on lap 7 that seemed to derail the team's race.
Now, heading into the season finale, Norris leads the championship by just 12 points over Verstappen, who has now overtaken Piastri in the standings. The Australian driver trails the four-time champion by four points.
Stella argued that they didn't pit Piastri or Norris on lap 7 as they didn't expect every other driver to do so and it restricted the pitstop strategy decisions for the remainder of the race. However, many have pointed to the team not wanting to put either driver at a disadvantage as a contributing factor in the decision.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs the championship battle heats up, the question of McLaren backing one driver for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has resurfaced.
"First of all, we understand Oscar being extremely disappointed because, like I said at the start, he has done everything, right? He's been fast. He's been solid. He's been consistent," Stella told Sky Sports F1.
Andrea Stella, McLaren
Andrea Stella, McLaren"Likewise, Lando, so the drivers deserved to capitalise on their great performance. In terms of adapting the way we go racing, we just want to always keep the options open for both drivers. They're both in condition to win the championship.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"There's often been in the history of Formula 1 a situation in which it was the third one in the classification to actually win the championship. I remember 2007 with Kimi, I think it was the same in 2010. I think we have to respect the fact that Oscar, he has his chance to win, and therefore we are going to let them race."
Acknowledging the threat of Verstappen to the drivers' title and explaining how the team will prepare for Abu Dhabi next week, he added: "Like always, it's a matter of review and preparation, so we need to prepare very diligently, very professionally, following our consolidated way of preparing race events.
"And at the same time, I think some of the last events have given us some important information to process, review, and make all the adaptations that are needed. We need to be perfect because the competition is so high and our competitors are doing so well. If we are not perfect, we have seen this today, we have seen this in Vegas, we may miss opportunities.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"We are still in condition to have the outcome of the championship in our hands. It's now up to the quality of our work to make sure that we pull off the performance and the race execution required. I think the team has already demonstrated that it is a very united team. Great conversations are always happening even after difficult races.
"So even in this case, we will make sure that, with Oscar, with Lando, with the entire team, we are prepared and we go very determined into the finale of this season."
Photos from Qatar GP - Race
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCharles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 TeamZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls TeamSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
The Aston Martin F1 Team AMR25 gets cooled
The Aston Martin F1 Team AMR25 gets cooledPeter Fox / Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMax Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
David Beckham
David BeckhamClive Mason / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariNoushad Thekkayil / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Jessica Alba
Jessica AlbaAndrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsPeter Fox / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMaya Jama
Maya JamaKym Illman / Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Williams mechanics during pit stop practice
Williams mechanics during pit stop practicePeter Fox / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenJayce Illman / Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, AlpineClive Mason / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLarenLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLarenLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 TeamMark Thompson / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNico Hulkenberg, Sauber crash
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber crashRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Drivers pit during the safety car
Drivers pit during the safety carAltaf Qadri / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
David Beckham
David BeckhamMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenMark Thompson / Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenMahmud Hams / AFP via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCharles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLarenClive Mason / Getty Images
A Williams team member
A Williams team memberPeter Fox / Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesClive Mason / Getty Images
Andrea Stella, McLaren
Andrea Stella, McLarenMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMax Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsPeter Fox / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMario Renzi - Formula 1 - Getty Images
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