The Australian Grand Prix took an unexpected turn at one point when McLaren issued a surprising team order to Oscar Piastri, instructing him to hold position behind teammate Lando Norris despite appearing faster at that stage of the race.
The decision raised eyebrows as it contradicted McLaren’s pre-season stance that the two drivers would be allowed to race freely.
Team Principal Andrea Stella has since shed light on the rationale behind the move, unveiling a tale of backmarkers, weather worries, and a calculated pause intended to help shape McLaren’s triumphant day.
A Dominant Duo Faces a Dilemma
McLaren’s grip on the race was ironclad from the start. Norris fended off Max Verstappen’s early charge, building a commanding lead as Piastri regained the upper hand over the Red Bull driver.
As the track dried around the halfway mark, Piastri’s pace surged, the Aussie edging within DRS range, the tantalizing prospect of a Melbourne victory flashing before his eyes.
But just as the crowd braced for an intra-team showdown, McLaren intervened, instructing Piastri to stay put. The decision clashed with the team’s pre-season vow to let their drivers race freely, leaving Piastri audibly irked over the radio.
Speaking to the media after the race, Stella explained the unexpected call, pointing to a brewing storm – literal and logistical.
“So, during the race, at some stage, we had to go relatively soon through some backmarkers, while the cars were close together and the conditions on track were still a little tricky with Intermediate tyres that were running down a bit in terms of their rubber.
“And at the same time, we were receiving some updates on the weather forecast.”
Backmarkers and Rain on the Radar
The call wasn’t about favoritism – it was about survival. Lapped cars loomed ahead, a tricky proposition with worn intermediates and the two McLarens nose-to-tail. Add an uncertain weather radar hinting at more rain, and McLaren saw risk outweighing reward.
“So, we had the going through the backmarkers and the update on the weather forecast that led us to close for a short period of time the internal racing between our two drivers until we had clarity as to the weather prediction, what this meant for how we should have used the tyres, and then until we had closed the matter of overtaking the backmarkers,” Stella explained.
“So, once this was completed and the weather was assessed, then we reopened the racing.”
The pause was tactical – a brief ceasefire to secure the 1-2 rather than gamble on a battle that could potentially end in tears.
Stella stressed the team’s intent to keep it short and sweet, giving Piastri a fair shot at glory once the dust settled.
“The drivers were aware when we gave the team order to hold positions, and then they were aware when we told them to be free to race,” he elucidated.
“And in the meantime, I left to review the communications with the drivers, but for drivers, we didn’t even know ourselves how long this period would have been until the weather forecast had become a little clearer.
“So, we just tried to keep this period as short as possible, and the drivers know that this is the case, so we don’t want to make it unnecessarily long.”
A Mistake That Proved the Point
McLaren eventually lifted the order, but by then, Piastri’s chance had slipped away. A dip into the gravel at Turn 6 cost him time, widening the gap to Norris and silencing his challenge. For Stella, it was vindication.
“I think in terms of retaining a consistent pace at that stage of the races, it was difficult, which is also one of the reasons why we wanted to pause the internal competition for a few laps, because both drivers were making little mistakes here and there,” he elaborated.
©McLaren
“Because I think as soon as you were putting the tyres on a slightly more wet portion, then you may have a sudden oversteer, you may have a little
“So I don’t know exactly what kind of issues he might have had in terms of pace in this phase of the race, but I suspect that it might have to do with these little issues that pushing at that level in those conditions, I’ve seen regularly on either of the drivers.”
McLaren’s decision may have disappointed Piastri and his home crowd, but Stella’s reasoning sheds light on the team’s priority of safety and maintaining consistent pace amidst challenging conditions.
While the brief team order was a deviation from McLaren’s usual racing philosophy, it ultimately reflected a cautious strategy in the face of unpredictable elements.
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