Stella playfully pokes fun at Piastri and Norris during McLaren special event

In a brief speech to the entire McLaren staff at the MTC in Woking, held to celebrate the team’s 200th Formula 1 victory, team principal Andrea Stella playfully teased his drivers as he invited them up on stage.

It’s been almost a week since the Hungarian Grand Prix, which once again saw absolute dominance from Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, with McLaren securing yet another one-two in what has so far been a one-sided season in the Constructors’ Championship.

After 14 Grands Prix, the British outfit already sits on 559 points in the standings — more than double Ferrari’s tally, with the Italian team trailing in second on just 260 — further proof of the consistency of the project and the results the two drivers have delivered on track so far.

For the papaya team, however, the celebrations aren’t over yet. Before temporarily shutting down for the long summer break, the team hosted a debrief at the MTC in Woking to celebrate its achievements so far — and, above all, its 200th Formula 1 victory, claimed just last Sunday.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on the podium in Hungary

Stella jokingly teases his drivers

An event met with great pride by Andrea Stella, who has been at the helm of the team since late 2022, and one of the key figures behind McLaren’s revival alongside Zak Brown.

''We can not only say we are part of this incredible team, of these incredible results, but we are also part of a moment that will stay for ever in history, which is the victory number 200,'' he said in front of the whole company staff.

''We are so lucky to have Lando and Oscar, they are role models of our values. And we always remember that the interest of the team is something bigger than each of us, including our drivers. It's the moment to thank Lando and Oscar.''

Finally, the Italian manager lightened the moment with a playful jab, fully aware of the tight battle between the two for the Drivers’ Championship.

Once on stage, Norris and Piastri hesitated over who should speak first, and Stella seized the opportunity to tease them: ''It's the first time that they want to let the other one pass. See it, because this is the only time.''

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