McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has asserted the strong relationship between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri has not shifted despite their title fight last year.
Norris came out on top in the season-long fight and was also forced to fend off a late-charging Max Verstappen.
While the battle between the two McLarens was harmonious by historic standards, there were some controversial moments which resulted in criticism being directed the team's way.
This included an order to swap positions in Monza after Norris lost out due to a slow pit stop.
With McLaren now on the back foot during the new F1 season compared to Mercedes and seeking a return to the top, Stella insisted the drivers are holding no grudges from their 2025 fight.
“When it comes to the relationship between Oscar and Lando, I’ve actually been thinking about it because I see how well they collaborate,” Stella told media including RacingNews365.
“These guys have gone through a quest for a world championship, the drivers’ world championship, the dream of their life, and competing with one another, and now they keep exhibiting this level of mutual respect.
“This is perhaps something that we have helped them as a team to reflect and embed, but at the same time, and this is true for Lando as well, what I said before for Oscar, this is who they are.
“This is also why they drive a McLaren, because it just wouldn’t work, the relationship between a driver and a team, if we didn’t share the same values, the same mindset, the same approach to racing.”
The manner in which the duo navigated the season has given Stella confidence that they would be able to handle another intra-team battle in a similar fashion.
“So, I’m personally very proud of Lando and Oscar for how they are collaborating at the moment,” he said.
“If we had not had the 2025, I would say, 'let me see once they become rivals for the championship,' but we have had it already.
“At the moment I’m just proud and happy with what they are doing for McLaren and for themselves.”
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