Andrea Stella has confirmed that McLaren is drawing on one of the most contentious championship battles in F1 history to aid its quest for title glory this year.
McLaren has a target on its back at present after taking up the lead of the constructors' championship, holding a narrow 29-point cushion over McLaren.
In the drivers' standings, Lando Norris still faces the difficult task of overhauling Max Verstappen, given the 47-point cushion with only 120 points available.
However, animosity has developed between the two teams and two drivers of late that is reminiscent, although not quite as intense, as the fight between Mercedes and Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen in 2021.
Stella, however, is using that as a reference to help guide him, the team and Norris as he feels "there's always a lot you can learn from the past".
Speaking to media, including RacingNews365, he added: "One thing we say internally is, 'Let's try to learn from situations without us being protagonists of these situations'.
"So we definitely look at that season. We looked, even if we wanted to talk about some hot topics, the close racing between Max and Hamilton.
"We looked at the mutual monitoring between the teams, which is normal practice. But definitely, as you contend at this level, you need to pay extra attention in analysing what competitors do from a technical point of view, from a sporting point of view.
"So yes, 2021 is a reference season, like many others, in fairness, and we try and learn as much as possible."
Stella has conceded to "a little bit of pride" that McLaren finds itself in a contender position after so long sitting on the outside looking in at rival teams and drivers going head to head.
"Twenty-21 is in the history of Formula 1," said Stella. "It will stay there for a long, long time for various reasons.
"But let me express a bit of pride to be there now with McLaren."
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