McLaren Vows 'Thorough Review' After 'Penalizing' Qatar GP Strategy Blunder

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has promised a "very thorough" internal review of the team's "significantly penalizing" strategy error at the Qatar Grand Prix, acknowledging a potential "bias" in their decision to keep both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris out during a safety car period.

Why it matters:

After a double disqualification in Las Vegas, McLaren's strategic misstep in Qatar allowed Max Verstappen to gain a significant advantage, cutting Lando Norris's championship lead from 24 to just 12 points ahead of the final race. This blunder highlights the immense pressure and critical decision-making required in a tight championship fight, potentially exposing vulnerabilities in the team's operational execution.

The Details:

• Strategic Oversight: During a Lap 7 safety car, McLaren opted against pitting Piastri (running first) and Norris (third), while every other driver, including Verstappen, took a 'free' pit stop.
• Lost Time: This forced both McLaren drivers to complete their two mandatory pit stops at racing speed, costing them valuable track position and time against their rivals.
• Race Impact: Despite Piastri's recovery to second, Norris could only manage fourth, which Stella described as conceding "one pit stop to a rival that was fast today."
• Acknowledged Error: Stella admitted that "all the other cars and teams had a different opinion in relation to a safety car on Lap 7. Everyone pitted and this made our staying out ultimately incorrect from a race outcome point of view."
• Previous Incident: This error follows closely on the heels of the team's double disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix due to excessive skid-block wear, which was attributed to "unexpected occurrence of extensive porpoising."

Between the lines:

Stella suggested that a "certain bias" might have influenced the team's expectation that not all cars would pit, leading to the misjudgment. He emphasized McLaren's strong "no-blame culture" and commitment to continuous improvement, drawing parallels to Michael Schumacher's early struggles at Ferrari as proof that champions overcome adversity. The mounting errors are seen as a consequence of the "very tight" competition and the "spotlight" of a title battle, which exposes every detail and demands flawless execution.

What's next:

The team will conduct a comprehensive internal review to understand the root causes of the Qatar strategy misjudgment. As they head into the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, McLaren will be under immense pressure to demonstrate a strong reaction, learn from these lessons, and ensure perfect execution to support Lando Norris's bid to stop Verstappen's dominance and secure the drivers' championship.