McLaren’s Tactical Dilemma Explained: Lando Norris vs. Oscar Piastri

The Japanese Grand Prix strategy of McLaren, which saw Lando Norris pitted on the same lap as Max Verstappen, has left many puzzled. Team principal Andrea Stella sheds light on the team’s strategic conundrum in a weekend where tactical flexibility was limited due to low tire degradation.

The Potential Undercut and Its Implications

When asked about an earlier pit stop for Norris to gain an advantage over Verstappen through an undercut, Stella considered this option but felt it would have left Piastri vulnerable to cars that had already pitted. He prioritized Piastri to cover the likes of Charles Leclerc and George Russell.

Stella also highlighted the safety car factor in this scenario, stating that any interruption due to an accident would have immediately ruled out the team’s chances of a substantial points haul.

The Risk of an Overcut Strategy

Stella felt that an overcut strategy was not feasible as the pace advantage of fresh hard tires versus worn mediums would only maintain the status quo, with Norris falling even further behind. He also noted the speed of Russell on fresh hard tires, which meant the team could not risk pitting any later than Verstappen.

Stella explained that an overcut strategy would have resulted in Norris losing positions to other cars, including Piastri, who had already pitted and were faster on worn tires. He added that an overcut works well when there is a significant tire delta, as seen in Barcelona or Suzuka in the past, but the low degradation at Suzuka made this strategy ineffective.

In hindsight, without safety car interruptions, Stella admits that an undercut attempt might have been considered, but he emphasizes that such a move comes with inherent risks. He reiterates that losing positions due to a safety car would likely mean those positions are lost for good, as overtaking a Ferrari or Mercedes was unlikely in the current race conditions.

Stella concludes by acknowledging the team’s strategic review, focusing on understanding whether an undercut with Norris could have been executed on Verstappen and assessing the risks involved in such a move.