Stella: Racing situations are susceptible to different interpretations

The call drew accusations that the outcome had been orchestrated from the pit wall, but the McLaren Stella was clear in Baku on Friday that such noise is inevitable in Formula 1 as the Piastri-Norris title battle intensifies.

The McLaren team principal said: "No surprise, really. I think noise around racing situations is natural. Formula 1 is a very popular sport. What's important for us is that comments are respectful. And when they are respectful, we welcome them, we listen, we take them into account, even if ultimately what counts for us is not the external noise, but what we make of it internally and how we set ourselves to keep going racing,” Stella said.

Pressed on claims that Monza was engineered, he responded: “Racing situations are definitely susceptible to different interpretations. We are comfortable with the noise, with the comments. We welcome the comments. From the pit wall, we execute what we agree with our drivers, which ultimately becomes our racing principles and approach.

"Because we sequenced the two cars in a certain way at the pit stop, going with the car behind, then we required a swap. This compounded with the slow stop led to a swap. The situation was the same as Hungary, and we acted consistently with that," added Stella

As Norris himself later clarified, the call was explained internally and accepted by both drivers. Stella confirmed that Monza reinforced the team’s methods rather than changed them.

He commented: “Like after every race weekend, we review how we operate, the decisions we make, like the driving and so on.

"We did the same after Monza, and we could confirm that the way we operated is what we intended, is what we can confirm for the future. So while we remain open and attentive to anything that happens, I think that situation gave us a possibility to confirm our approach," said the McLaren team boss.

Even with the Constructors’ Championship within reach this weekend in Azerbaijan, Stella was adamant that McLaren’s values will continue to shape decisions, not the standings. “The approach to the Drivers’ title will not change.

"This is not dependent on the Constructors’. The way we go racing is dependent on the racing principles, on the values that we embody as McLaren Racing, and also is a reflection of the fact that we want to protect the unity of the team, which is a foundational condition for the future," insisted Stella.

McLaren have dominated much of 2025 with 12 wins from 16 races, but Stella emphasised that their rise is the result of long-term planning.

He said: "If we consider a period of five years, there is a lot that has happened in those five years, part of which, actually, regards myself, because I was in a different position five years ago.

"At the start of 2023, I became team principal. But the conditions to become successful started definitely from farther before me. Investments were planned years earlier.

"This is the result of investments that were approved before me being team principal. So there is a legacy, a contribution that comes from the people that were in position before me. It is a long journey in Formula 1.”

Stella pointed to technical boldness as the defining leap of 2025, adding: “If I had to pick one, that is from a technical point of view. I think the car itself is just a much better car. It's very innovative compared to last year. We decided to go for development in pretty much every single part of the car.

"We required some bravery in some areas of the car, for instance in the front suspension and some other parts that are less visible. So for me, that's where the biggest step forward has happened. And obviously, like I said, the race team and the drivers themselves, we are all developed," he explained.

Despite McLaren’s dominance, Stella dismissed the idea of chasing Red Bull’s 860-point record from 2023 saying: “The record that Red Bull have been able to set as a benchmark is just incredible. It's remarkable. For us, this is a reference, but this is not what we think about. What we think about is one race at a time.

"Like we saw in Monza, things cannot be taken for granted. Red Bull was faster than us in Monza in qualifying and in the race. We had the DNF in Zandvoort on Lando's car. So before we think about the final destination, we have to make sure that we maximise at every single stage.”

On the bigger picture, Stella praised the budget cap as essential to the health of the sport while rejecting suggestions that it freezes performance levels, he explained: “The budget cap is one of the most important aspects of the regulations that we have in place to guarantee the health and the viability of the sport.

"At McLaren we have been able to make a decent step forward under the budget cap, because ultimately you can find performance not only from a financial point of view, but also from a technical point of view.

"So I don’t think the budget cap is a limitation," Stella maintained.

Comparisons with his old team Ferrari also surfaced, with Stella highlighting similarities more than differences: “I always say that the differences are much less than one could think.

"At Ferrari, you may have more external pressure; it is like the national team, but at McLaren, there is also a lot of attention. Many more similarities than differences, for what I could have experienced.”

He added that passion is shared across both: “When it comes to the passion associated with being part of the team, the pride of being part of the team, wearing the jersey, whether Ferrari or McLaren, I do experience the same. And if anything, an important part of the way Zak and myself are trying to shape the team, create the right values in the team, has to do with the sense of affiliation.

"The sense of being willing to keep improving yourself, to keep improving the team, because we want to see this team winning. And you need to make sure that you instill these values within each of the 1,000 people.”

Stella acknowledged that the emotions are different this season compared to their surprise 2024 F1 Title, he said: “Well, first of all, let's go and win it.

"Like, it's not ours yet. Last year, the championship came as a surprise, much earlier than expected in terms of the trajectory of the team.

"This year, we realised relatively soon that the car was very competitive, that we were in condition to win races. So it was more about keeping the concentration, keeping the focus, maximising the potential available. And also this year, we have one more dimension, which is the fact that we have also the drivers in contention for the Drivers’ Championship.”

For Stella, consistency in values and execution, not outside debate, remains the foundation of McLaren’s challenge. Racing situations will always be open to interpretation, but the team’s unity must remain beyond doubt.

On Sunday in Baku, McLaren could clinch their second Formula 1 Constructors' Title in a row should Piastri and Norris finish P1 and P3 or better. It will be the Woking team's 1oth in the top flight, only bettered by Ferrari with their 16 titles.