McLaren Admits Soft Tyre Decision Cost Norris Potential British GP Win
In the aftermath of the British Grand Prix, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has revealed that Mercedes’ decision to fit Soft tyres for the final stint influenced their call that ultimately cost them a potential win.
At the Formula 1 event at Silverstone, Lando Norris was dominating the race when McLaren reacted a lap late to the switch to slicks, allowing Lewis Hamilton to take the lead.
Despite Norris taking responsibility for the missed opportunity, Stella emphasized that the team was accountable for the mistakes made, including the timing and tyre compound selection. The Italian admitted that Mercedes’ decision to fit Softs led them to deviate from their initial plan, which was to opt for Medium tyres.
“Definitely, the fact that Lewis went on Soft is one of the disturbing factors towards the fact that we actually were going on Medium, if that makes sense,” Stella said. “I think there, the bet was, will the Soft make it to the end, and how much gap will the Soft gain at the start in transition compared to going there on Medium?”
Stella highlighted the trade-off between the Soft and Medium tyres, with the former providing an initial advantage but potentially struggling to last until the end of the race.
The McLaren team principal reiterated that Norris was blameless and emphasized that the team should have been more decisive in overruling the driver’s desire to fit Soft tyres.
“It’s 100 per cent my responsibility and the people, the driver kind of gives his point of view that is a point of view. And in that case, it should have been the people to make a call saying we go Medium because the Soft may not make it to the end.”
This latest development adds a new layer of complexity to the Formula 1 news today, as teams continue to navigate the intricacies of tyre strategy in the high-stakes world of Formula 1. Stay tuned for more updates on the Formula 1 calendar and the latest happenings in the paddock.
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