“Constructors’ Championship always our priority,” insists Stella

Sao Paulo disappointment “would not change something”, insists McLaren boss Andrea Stella as Woking outfit targets workforce title.

Which might be simply in addition to Max Verstappen, following his bravura efficiency at Interlagos, can put the title out of Lando Norris’ attain in Las Vegas.

Extreme wheelspin firstly adopted by a few errors and the unlucky timing of a crimson flag all left the Briton 62 level adrift of his rival.

Nonetheless, McLaren stays 37 factors forward of Ferrari within the all-important – so far as prize cash is worried – workforce standings and 48 away from Crimson Bull.

“By way of the Constructors’ Championship, I do not suppose it modifications something,” stated Stella in response to Sunday’s end result, which noticed Norris come residence sixth and teammate Oscar Piastri eighth.

“It was at all times our precedence,” he added. “Even when there was a name to be made to assist one driver or the opposite, it was at all times secondary to maximising the constructors’ championship.”

Requested if the stress of the (drivers’) title combat had acquired to Norris – who ungraciously steered that his rival’s win had been all the way down to luck – Stella stated: “On the subject of the drivers’ championship, I do not suppose for Lando there was any explicit stress.

“We have been having fun with this quest, despite the fact that generally from the surface it might come throughout like there’s an error right here or there possibly,” he added. “It’s like after we locked the tyres with the automotive like we had in Brazil I’m not wanting on the driver, I’m taking a look at why the automotive retains locking the entrance tyres in circumstances like this. I do not suppose stress was a big issue in any respect.

“Mathematically we’re nonetheless within the (drivers’) championship,” he continued, “however I believe for Lando and for Oscar, we’ll go to the following races making an attempt to win the races.

“The final two venues needs to be fairly good,” he stated. “Vegas might be probably extra of a Ferrari monitor, after which we’ll see. It’s all to play for, and the Constructors’ Championship stays and has at all times been our precedence.”

All of which begs the query why was Piastri pressured handy over his lead within the Dash to his teammate, and – if the constructors’ title is the precedence – will there be a repeat ought to the Australian discover himself main the Briton once more.