McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has voiced strong opinions about Max Verstappen's driving style, attributing it as the cause of a collision with Lando Norris during the Austrian Grand Prix. The incident at the Red Bull Ring left both drivers with punctured tires, shaking up the race dynamics and ultimately allowing George Russell to inherit the lead and secure a victory.
Verstappen’s Driving Style Under Scrutiny
Stella did not mince words when addressing the crash, suggesting that Verstappen's aggressive maneuvers are part of a recurring issue. He indicated that similar incidents, particularly those during Verstappen's fierce title battle with Lewis Hamilton in 2021, were handled inadequately by the FIA. According to Stella, the failure to properly penalize such actions in the past has set a dangerous precedent.
"The entire population of the world knows who was responsible except for a group of people," Stella remarked, expressing his frustration with the stewards' handling of on-track incidents.
Need for Stronger Regulations
The stewards at the Austrian Grand Prix handed Verstappen a 10-second penalty, holding him solely responsible for the clash. However, Stella believes that the current regulatory framework is insufficient to deter such conduct. He explained that harsher penalties commensurate with the outcomes of the collisions should be implemented to discourage risky driving.
"If you don't address these things honestly, they will come back. They weren't addressed properly in the past when there were fights with Lewis that needed to be punished in a harsher way," Stella stated. "The regulations must be enforced in a way that is effective. When a car is out of the race, as a consequence, then the punishment needs to be proportionate to the outcome."
Impact on McLaren and Norris
The incident was particularly costly for McLaren and Norris, who lost valuable points and a potential victory. Stella lamented the missed opportunity, expressing a desire for a more equitable racing environment.
"For us, there's a lot of points gone. And a victory which I think Lando deserved to have the opportunity to have," he said.
Calls for Change
Stella’s comments highlight a broader concern in the sport: the need for clearer boundaries and stringent enforcement of existing rules. He views the incident as a catalyst for change, urging the FIA to reassess and fortify its regulations to prevent future accidents.
"Before this episode, twice he moved in braking. It is evident that we have to enforce the way to go racing," Stella pointed out, referencing Verstappen's driving tactics earlier in the race. "In every kind of human dynamics, if you don't address things, as soon as you introduce competition, as soon as you introduce a sense of injustice, these things escalate. It's like anything."
Looking Toward the Future
Stella emphasized that the fallout from the collision underscores unresolved issues from previous seasons. He sees this incident as an opportunity for the sport to improve.
"Here there was incomplete job, let's say, that comes from the past, and is a legacy that as soon as there was a trigger, immediately there is an outburst," he said. "So I think this one like I said before, this episode today should be taken as an opportunity to tighten up, to plump up the boundaries, and in fairness, enforcing some of the rules that are already in place."
Stella’s call to action is clear: the rules should leave no margin for repeated dangerous maneuvers, thereby ensuring a safer and fairer competition.
"But we need to be very clear that these rules cannot be abused in a way that then leaves a margin to do a couple of times the same maneuver, and you know the third time there is going to be an accident," he asserted.
In a sport where every race can have far-reaching implications for teams and drivers, Stella's plea for regulatory reform echoes beyond the confines of this single incident. It’s a call for a future where races are determined by skill and strategy rather than collisions.
"It could have been Max, it could have been Lando. That's racing. But racing like with collisions, we don't like it," Stella concluded, encapsulating the essence of his concerns and aspirations for the sport.