McLaren highlight problem with critical Oscar Piastri-Lando Norris difference

McLaren boss Andrea Stella has explained a major problem it is facing with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris running different specifications of the MCL39. 

In Canada, a new front suspension was introduced, which only Norris is using, as Piastri has been content to remain faithful to the old design from the start of the season.

Since the new parts were delivered, Norris has won two races in Austria and Britain to reduce Piastri's lead to just eight points in the drivers' standings at the halfway stage of the season. 

Norris had struggled with the feeling from the front axle in the first quarter of the campaign when Piastri won four of the first six races, but believes the difference in front suspension has been overblown. 

Piastri believes that the new parts are not an upgrade, but "just different".

Addressing the unusual split between his drivers, team principal Stella explained the problem McLaren was facing as a result. 

"The different front suspension set-up does not complicate the way we look at the data, the way we compare how well the cars are doing from a performance or a driving performance point of view," Stella told the media, including RacingNews365. 

"That is not a problem in itself, and if anything, it is more of a problem from a parts point of view because we need to have different specifications that we carry with us.

"We are discussing whether some of the options adopted by Lando might be interesting for Oscar in the future, but this will be evaluated.

"But for the moment, the most important news for us is that we seem to have found a better feeling for Lando with the front axle, and some of the comments which were made at the start of the season seem to have gone away, and Lando is more comfortable. This is really good news.

"For Oscar, he has always been in a good space in terms of his relationship with the car, and there is a chance that these differences will persist for the remainder of the season."