Sao Paulo disappointment "doesn't change anything", insists McLaren boss Andrea Stella as Woking outfit targets team title.

Which is probably just as well as Max Verstappen, following his bravura performance at Interlagos, can put the title out of Lando Norris' reach in Las Vegas.

Excessive wheelspin at the start followed by a couple of mistakes and the unfortunate timing of a red flag all left the Briton 62 point adrift of his rival.

However, McLaren remains 37 points ahead of Ferrari in the all-important - as far as prize money is concerned - team standings and 48 clear of Red Bull.

"In terms of the Constructors' Championship, I don't think it changes anything," said Stella in reaction to Sunday's result, which saw Norris come home sixth and teammate Oscar Piastri eighth.

"It was always our priority," he added. "Even when there was a call to be made to support one driver or the other, it was always secondary to maximising the constructors' championship."

Asked if the pressure of the (drivers') title fight had got to Norris - who ungraciously suggested that his rival's win had been down to luck - Stella said: "When it comes to the drivers' championship, I don't think for Lando there was any particular pressure.

"We were enjoying this quest, even though sometimes from the outside it may come across like there is an error here or there maybe," he added. "It is like when we locked the tyres with the car like we had in Brazil I am not looking at the driver, I am looking at why the car keeps locking the front tyres in conditions like this. I don't think pressure was a significant factor at all.

"Mathematically we are still in the (drivers') championship," he continued, "but I think for Lando and for Oscar, we will go to the next races trying to win the races.

"The last two venues should be quite good," he said. "Vegas will be potentially more of a Ferrari track, and then we will see. It is all to play for, and the Constructors' Championship remains and has always been our priority."

All of which begs the question why was Piastri forced to hand over his lead in the Sprint to his teammate, and - if the constructors' title is the priority - will there be a repeat should the Australian find himself leading the Briton again.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Max Noble, 08/11/2024 3:02

"@Kenji - LoL, yes a much lighter observation! Thanks for sharing. Next time I hit the speed bumps at 5kph I’ll take the time to be more observant! "

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2. Posted by kenji, 06/11/2024 12:58

"If Stella just happens to read Pitpass comments I have a question for him. If, as expected, Norris fails in his bid for assisted WDC glory, is the team planning on giving Piastri reciprocal No1 status in an effort to assist Oscar leapfrog Leclerc for third place in the WDC? To deny him that would hardly be cognisant with a 'principled approach, now would it? Of course Oscar may reject that, but that's just conjecture."

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3. Posted by kenji, 06/11/2024 12:15

"@ Max Noble....on a somewhat lighter note from the moralistic statements proclaimed by Saint Andrea Stella as their guiding principles, or not, as maybe the case here, let me point out that my local Aldi car park is indeed very interesting! At most times it is chockful of high end luxury vehicles that are almost exclusively owned by rich Asian ladies and gentlemen. They are a formidable force swarming through the isles , mobile in hand, checking prices methodically in order to acquire the best goods for the best competetive price. Very canny shoppers. Obviously it pays off, seeing the LV shopping bags and classy couture being sported during these mundane every day chores. What I have noticed as well is what seems to be an unspoken hierarchy between the Mercedes clans and their Audi counterparts! Makes for an interesting dichotomy. AM owners though are entirely oblivious to the casual observer but watch closer and you'll see that common 'national' acknowledgements are rare Inclusivity doesn't get a look in...... in the wealth parade, haha Welcome to the Aldi Parade."

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4. Posted by Max Noble, 06/11/2024 7:58

"We know all of you are only there for the joy of taking part… Seriously… sprint driver swap (as already highlighted) and that was for the team championship…!? Me thinks Lando finishing so far behind an imperial V. Max performance is leading to a change in spin…! I believe we should all be shouting Viva Las Vegas! It could be another for the ages… oh… hang on. No chance of rain and the circuit is as exciting as an Aldi car park… dang…

"

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5. Posted by kenji, 06/11/2024 0:38

"There can be no doubt that Oscar won the sprint. Stella tries to hide the fact that they are giving Oscar the 'No2' treatment when he gasses on about principles.....and integrity/sportsmanship! What a load of old garbanzos. With the likelihood of Norris pulling anything substantial from the final three races that would give him the WDC result, McLaren/Stella/Brown should revoke all 'demeaning' limits placed on the drivers. Surely after Norris took such a drubbing [ cemented by another flaky start ] in Brazil it's high time to let Oscar fight without one hand behind his back in a fair and equitable fashion. Brown has been noticably absent from the comments columns of the world's motor racing press post Brazil........maybe he got lost along with all the Brit press that Verstappen mentioned. Roll on Vegas."

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6. Posted by jcr, 06/11/2024 0:03

"So nothing has changed at McLaren,
Many years ago Big Ron Dennis upset Kimi Raikanen. when he said the drivers championship was only a medal for the driver to wear,
So Lando,s medal is gone.
Rock on Oscar.
BTW, has,nt Zak been very quiet ??
"

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7. Posted by Kkiirmki, 05/11/2024 22:30

"So no papaya rules going forward, drivers are free to race?"

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"Constructors' Championship always our priority," insists Stella

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