McLaren make 'number one driver' stance clear after team order debate

McLaren has signalled it would be open to implementing a number one driver hierarchy after its team orders dispute in the Hungarian Grand Prix. 

In the closing stages of the Budapest race, McLaren was imploring Lando Norris to cede the lead and allow Oscar Piastri back through having been undercut by Norris at the final round of pit-stops.

Normally the lead driver gets priority for pit-stops, but Norris, who was around two seconds behind Piastri, pitted first, as the team tried to cover off Lewis Hamilton behind. 

With Norris and McLaren eyeing a challenge for the drivers' title against Max Verstappen, there were fears Norris would not give the position back and lose seven points in the fight, but on lap 68 of 70, he did follow the demands.

Team principal Andrea Stella has since said that if any driver does not follow a McLaren team order, their future could be in doubt at the team, but has signalled a number one driver policy could come into force later in the season.

"When you have Oscar and Lando, we are in the lucky position that we don't really need to decide who is a number one driver," Stella told media including RacingNews365. 

"It is a way of simplifying things for some people like myself but a way to frustrate the ambition of the entire team and the way we go racing. 

"It is deep in our ethos that we race fair and if one of the drivers gains a result on merit, it is protected.

"Maybe if it is the last couple of races and there is a strong championship-interest for one of the two drivers, we may revise this." 

Onus on Norris and Piastri

Stella also placed the onus on Norris and Piastri to step up and make the call to support the other themselves, without needing to be prompted by the team.

"But what I am expecting is that the other driver will come to me and say: 'if you need help with the other driver because he is in championship contention, I am available,'" he said.

"You build this ethos, if you manage [races] like this in a fair way, like I think we did.

"It may give a lot of material for rumours and the media, and that is fair enough, that is racing. 

"To be honest, I enjoyed this week as a spectator, as a fan and when these things happen, please acknowledge that what we did was fair. 

"This is what I want the entire team at McLaren to realise and hopefully the fans as well."