McLaren boss Andrea Stella will remind his drivers that the “first interest is the team” as it aims to clinch the Formula 1 Constructors’ title in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Woking-based squad goes into the showdown at the Yas Marina Circuit in a commanding position as it possesses a 21-point advantage over nearest rival Ferrari.
McLaren’s chance of ending a Constructors’ Championship drought dating back to 1998 was bolstered as Lando Norris headed a front-row lockout with Oscar Piastri.
But Stella is conscious that having both drivers situated at the sharp end could create a circumstance where the two duelling might compromise the side’s prospects.
Stella has acknowledged the need to control the situation to avoid that outcome, although McLaren has experienced turmoil with team orders earlier in the campaign.
However, Stella is optimistic that the prize on the line will be enough to ensure Norris and Piastri override their personal desire to conclude the season with a race win.
“When we deal with drivers, we always need to be very conscious that they are wired to win races,” said Stella. “They grow from karting thinking like that.
“They always think like that, and then at some stage in their career, you tell them, like, ‘Oh no, here is not about you guys winning. Here is about the team winning.’
“So first of all, awareness. We are very aware. During the season, we already had a conversation, more than one conversation with our two drivers,
and we said to them that this is the only situation in which the interests of us three is not the same.
“So we cannot face something just staying totally united because the two drivers: each of them wants to win.”
McLaren covering all bases
With McLaren CEO Zak Brown indicating that instructions will be imposed, Stella has admitted the team will guarantee all bases are covered in their pre-race meeting.
“Anytime we had this conversation, I was always very positively surprised by how easy it was to get the point across,” the Italian added.
“The first interest is the team, and this will be the same conversation [on Sunday morning].
“We have the launch, we have the first corner, the first lap, all situations for which we will have the best possible preparation.
“Sometimes in reality, when it’s about close racing, you cannot be too prescriptive, because drivers actually may feel the safest just following the instinct.
“But what’s important is that you programme the instinct with a clear objective, and the objective tomorrow is to bring the championship home.
“And I have to say that when I talked with Oscar and Lando as well, they both thought that for where we are in our and in their careers,
and in the journey with McLaren, the Constructors’ Championship is actually what they care [about] the most.”
McLaren guarding against caution
Carlos Sainz will line up behind the McLaren duo in third place and the leading Ferrari driver has highlighted that he has “less to lose” as he sets his sights on winning.
But while McLaren will be eager to avoid risking its points lead with potential incidents, Stella has stressed that it will not be cautious as it bids to seal the deal on top.
“I think we should approach the race like we have approached the weekend, by repeating to ourselves that we will just keep doing what we have done before,” he said.
“And this is true even in the race.
“I think if you start to hesitate, you can make the wrong decisions. And so far, I have to say that the team have been pretty cool, pretty chill, calm, focused.
“Even during the qualifying, no one really held back anything. Like you could see with Oscar.
“He went into Q3 and he went for it, and he was on the limit of lap deletion that which then was restated.
“So obviously, we will have some words of caution, but in fairness, we would like very much to win the race.
“So that will be the objective, and I think it’s also the safest way to make sure that we gain the points that we need to for the championship.”
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