McLaren respond to F1 fan 'noise' after controversial driver swap

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has stated his team is “comfortable” with the noise F1 fans made over the squad's approach to the current title fight.

With McLaren dominating at the front of the grid, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are locked in a head-to-head scrap for the drivers' championship this year. With seven grands prix and three sprints remaining, Piastri leads by just 25 points.

At the Italian Grand Prix earlier this month, McLaren carried out a driver swap after Piastri jumped Norris in the pit lane phase when the latter had a slow stop, resulting in scrutiny from F1 fans and pundits. Some labelled it a manipulation.

Stella has defended McLaren's approach and called on fans to be respectful with their comments.

“So we are comfortable with the noise, with the comments,” Stella told the media, including RacingNews365.

“We welcome the comments. Like I said before, what's important is that they always remain respectful. 

“Respect is a very important value for McLaren Racing, and I'm sure for everyone. So, no surprise around the noise.”

McLaren has consistently outlined that it has talked through various scenarios with its drivers to avoid placing them in unforeseen circumstances.

While the Monza team order caused a stir, Stella stated it was the same approach it took in Hungary last year, when Piastri took his first grand prix win. 

“From the pit wall, we execute what we agree with our drivers, which ultimately becomes our racing principles and approach,” Stella said.

“In that situation, like I explained after the race, we sequenced the two cars in a certain way at the pit stop, going with the car behind, then we required a swap. 

“This, compounded with the slow stop, led to a swap. 

“But the situation that we had with the sequence in terms of strategy is the same as Hungary, and we acted consistently with the situation we had in Hungary.”