McLaren boss Andrea Stella has revealed the team became “nervous” that a late Safety Car had the potential to cost it the Formula 1 title in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Lando Norris converted pole position at the Yas Marina Circuit to ensure McLaren secured the Constructors’ Championship, despite Ferrari claiming a double podium.
Oscar Piastri being spun round at the start when Max Verstappen clipped his McLaren and both Ferraris running inside the top three enhanced the pressure on Norris.
With Oscar Piastri limited to a single point in 10th, Norris slipping behind the chasing Carlos Sainz or Charles Leclerc would’ve been enough to hand the title to Ferrari.
But while Norris maintained his cool and coasted to the chequered flag, Stella has divulged there was apprehension on the McLaren pit wall during the closing stages.
Stella has admitted that McLaren was “aware” that an incident triggering a Safety Car could have provided Ferrari with a chance to poach that crucial lead from Norris.
“That’s why we were pushing very hard with Oscar to make sure that we could get P9 because the two points would have been fundamental,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“We were nervous because not only the backmarkers were a problem, but the Safety Car would have been a problem because Carlos could have done the opposite of what we do.
“So, if we don’t pit, he could have gone on new tyres and it would have been a problem.
“If we had pitted, he would have taken the lead and we should have overtaken him.
“So, we were definitely nervous because of this happening, not so much about the backmarkers.”
Norris’ concern over lapped cars
Norris had complained about the grip he was losing in the turbulent wake behind the lapped cars, but McLaren wasn’t worried due to the margin he had built on Sainz.
“Somehow it is expected that you lose a bit of grip behind the backmarkers but this is not a track where there’s a lot of space to overtake backmarkers,” he continued.
“At that stage Lando had built a good gap to Carlos which was good to see by the way,
because in the first stint, I don’t think there was much to pick in terms of performance between Ferrari and McLaren.
“But on the harder compounds, it has often happened this season, Lando was the quickest car on track and this meant that we had a safety buffer.”
READ MORE – Lando Norris had faith he could deliver McLaren F1 title when Oscar Piastri was span round
