Stella hails Piastri’s progress after 1-2 in Spain as he explains ‘risk’ posed by McLaren’s strategy

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella lauded the exceptional performances of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris following their dominant 1-2 finish at the Spanish Grand Prix. Piastri secured his fifth win of the season, leading home Norris by just over two seconds in a race where McLaren bravely stuck to a two-stop strategy, a decision Stella admitted carried "a degree of risk." The team initially faced concerns as Max Verstappen, on a three-stop plan, threatened to close the gap, particularly when Norris was momentarily stuck behind the Red Bull driver. Stella revealed the team even urged their drivers to push harder, fearing Verstappen's rapid pace. However, the Dutchman's challenge unraveled after a Safety Car period, which saw most rivals on soft tyres while he was on hards, ultimately diminishing his threat. Stella praised the drivers' disciplined execution and the tyre engineers for managing the demanding long stints. He reaffirmed his belief that the two-stop was ultimately faster, despite the inherent risks of tyre degradation over extended runs. He also highlighted Piastri's remarkable progress since last year's Spanish Grand Prix, which had been a challenging event for the Australian, underscoring his significant development within 12 months.