McLaren boss Andrea Stella reiterated that team interests would trump those of individual drivers this season after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished second and third behind Max Verstappen at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
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Stella faced questions over the team's strategy after McLaren missed out on the top step of the podium for the first time in three Formula One races this year, but the Italian was quick to remind reporters that it was a 24-race championship.
"We are here first of all to beat the other teams and put McLaren in a very strong position," Stella told reporters.
"When McLaren is in a strong position, then that's the best position for the two drivers to pursue their aspirations.
"This is very clear to the team, very clear to the drivers."
How the teams now stand... 👀
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 6, 2025
There's a 36 point gap between leaders McLaren and second-placed Mercedes!#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/DdRrAvJUQD
Piastri contacted the pit wall on the radio in the latter stages of the race saying he felt he had the pace to overtake Verstappen, implying that Norris should be asked to let him pass.
Stella later said it was not clear that Piastri was any faster and that Norris was managing his tyres.
Piastri said he was happy with the reply he received and the result was that Norris retained the lead in the drivers' standings, albeit by a single point, while McLaren opened up a 50-point gap over Red Bull in the manufacturers' title race.
"It's important that when we are not in condition to win, we keep racing in a robust way," Stella added.
"Like if you can't win, finish on the podium. And in the long term, if you keep performing like this, I think this will be rewarding."
Norris said the race had been effectively decided when Verstappen pipped him to pole position with a stunning final lap in qualifying on Saturday.
"I could see Max quite clearly for the whole race but just couldn't make any inroads," the Briton said.
"I think our pace was probably slightly better but not enough to get through the dirty air, kind of get into the DRS, and then passing is a whole other story because it's pretty much impossible to pass here."
Trophies take a team behind them 🧡🏆#McLaren | #JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/G67uBGtw3q
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) April 6, 2025
Piastri, who won last time out in China, said he had hoped for a better present for his 24th birthday but that qualifying third on Saturday had been decisive.
"I think obviously the result is not exactly what I wanted, but I think in terms of the pace and the way I achieved the result is what I wanted," the Australian said.
"I think yesterday was the day that kind of dictated your weekend a lot and I didn't get the most out of the car. So that unfortunately kind of dictated a lot of what I could do today, and that's led to the result I've got."