McLaren team boss Andrea Stella has defended the team's decision not to issue direct orders between its two drivers during a tense late-race showdown at Imola.
As Max Verstappen was racing to victory, Lando Norris — on fresher tyres — began to close in on teammate Oscar Piastri in the closing laps. With both drivers still ahead of Verstappen in the championship, Norris radioed in a subtle suggestion for team intervention.
"It was definitely a thought," Stella admitted.
"We assumed that if Lando was able to pass Max he should have been able to pass Oscar pretty easily considering he was on fairly old tyres. We are happy with how things unfolded.
"Both drivers are happy, both think that was fair, and that's the way we go racing."
But the approach drew sharp criticism from 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve.
"They show weakness," he told Sky. "It's as if they're afraid to be aggressive in trying to win the drivers' Championship, and they're afraid to go against Piastri. It's really, really odd."
Norris, speaking diplomatically, hinted that the team's decision may have cost him — and McLaren — a shot at victory, especially as the two McLarens had a close wheel-to-wheel battle. "I lose time through that, and then he loses time, but it's what we have to do in order to battle for a championship," said the Briton.
"If you try and make someone happy, the other one's going to be unhappy, so it is the way it is."
Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko also weighed in, pointing to Verstappen's bold first-lap move on Piastri as an example of where McLaren's conservative mindset may have shown again.
"That was Max," Marko said. "He was pushing hard. Piastri knew he couldn't push against him, otherwise there would be a crash."
Former F1 driver Alex Wurz, however, defended Piastri's measured response, noting his position atop the standings.
"Piastri could have closed the line and pushed Max off the track in accordance with the rules," Wurz said. "But he decided not to take risks and save the points.
"Considering the fight for the championship, this was a very smart move."
As for Stella, he indicated that firmer team direction isn't off the table as the season progresses.
"Internally, we don't talk about 'if' — we talk about 'when'," he said. "We are aware as a team — and Lando and Oscar are aware as well."
