McLaren’s split strategy in the Hungarian Grand Prix was designed to put maximum pressure on Ferrari, or to prioritise Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri?Juan Pablo Montoya weighs in.
Speaking on the MontoyAS podcast, the Colombian broke down how the approach played out.
“If you look at Pirelli’s prediction, everyone had two stops,” Montoya said.
“McLaren’s goal was very easy: you have Oscar fighting with Charles and putting pressure on Charles to beat him.
"On the other side, you put Lando on the other strategy and Ferrari has to decide who to cover. They couldn’t cover both, and in the end Oscar beat Charles as well.”
Montoya clear: 'No team orders at McLaren'
Montoya does not believe there is a team order in place to favour Norris.
“Zak (Brown, McLaren's CEO, ed.), knows what he has with both drivers, they’re very neutral,” he said.
“But next year there are new rules, new theories, everything can change. This could be the only opportunity in their careers to be world champion.”
He warned that the stakes could fuel tension despite the drivers’ good relationship.
“Look at Oscar. Oscar's comments are getting out of hand. One is trying to get in line more, the other is trying to get out of line.”
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