“Both drivers are mathematically in position, but Lando is obviously in the best position from a numbers point of view, and we are fighting Max Verstappen, so if we have to give support to one driver, we have to pick the driver that is in the best position,” said Stella.
He continued: “Already in our conversation even before the race here [at Monza], we acknowledged that Lando is in the best position in the drivers’ championship point of view.
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“We have conversations with Oscar, with Lando, and together, and that defines our rules of engagement. We need to take a look at the first lap, but it has to be done in a way that is competent, is detailed, is specific, takes into account the videos, the drivers’ expectation…
“Then [we will] see what we can learn from this situation to adjust future situations, save the fact we do want to give it a go with the championship with Lando right now.”
Pushed if that means McLaren now have a number one, Stella added: “Well, number one works well as a headline, I’m not sure it works in the real world in terms of, ‘What does it mean?’
