Stella confirms McLaren team orders will be in use for 2025

16:13, 16 May

Updated: 17:02, 16 May

byOlly Darcy

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has said Formula 1 is so "complex" that it "will not be if, but when" in regards to the use of team orders for the British team.

The papaya-coloured team came under fire for their 'papaya rules' tag they had for their team orders last year, with a controversial 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix highlighting the issues they had with those.

Lando Norris was the beneficiary of those last season as he chances Max Verstappen in the world title fight, but currently, it is Oscar Piastri leading the championship after four wins in the first six races of 2025 in just his third F1 season.

Piastri celebrating his most recent win at the Miami Grand Prix

Stella unpacks McLaren's 2025 team orders

There were some issues with Ferrari and their team orders at the most recent Grand Prix, the Miami Grand Prix, and that resulted in Stella being asked what McLaren's stance on orders is this year.

"The matter of the internal competition between our two drivers is a matter that we face using our racing principles and approach," the Italian team boss explained.

"These principles have been put together not only by the team itself, but also with the contribution of the drivers. It is very much based on the several good conversations that we have had as we have been going through this journey together. These principles and approach, so far, have worked very well," Stella continued

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But those principals that Stella talked about could not be put into use by himself and the rest of the team if it were not for the two drivers the Italian has behind the wheel of the MCL39.

"They would not be working so well if we didn't have two drivers like Oscar and Lando who not only are very fast on track, but they are also two great individuals, and I've seen this several times, and I see this in the way they race.

"There may be situations in which we are challenged as a team, in which the internal competition gets very tight. We might have to give some direction from the pit wall. But actually, internally, we don't even say if, we say when, because the business is so complex. Formula One is so difficult that you will have this situation.

"But for me, what's important is that we stick with these principles and this approach, and that we react as a team in the most constructive way, something that having Lando and Oscar on board makes me quite confident that it will be the case," concluded Stella.