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Fans reacted as McLaren principal Andrea Stella said after the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix that the Drivers' title was never the team's priority over the Constructors' Championship. That came after Max Verstappen overshadowed Norris and Co. with a brilliant performance amid treacherous conditions at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace.
The Papayas have been the best team in the ongoing season, with two MCL38 rocket ships at their helm. With Norris and Piastri at their disposal, they improved from P4 in the Constructors' championship last year to leading it with three races to go in 2024.
However, Norris could do little to take the Drivers' title away from Verstappen, despite having the fastest car with him. The race in Brazil took his slim championship further away. Amid that, Stella's comment on McLaren prioritising the Constructors' title baffled fans.
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“In terms of the constructors’ championship, I don’t think it changes anything," Stella said.
"It was always our priority. Even when there was a call to be made to support one driver or the other, it was always secondary to maximizing the constructors’ championship.”
Fans flooded social media with reactions, with one tweeting:
"You can't dump me cause I'm dumping you vibes all over this."
"That’s exactly what I would say when I don’t get something I really wanted and worked for," another wrote.
Another fan wrote on similar lines:
"McLaren giving the same “he was just lucky” energy as Lando in that interview."
One fan wrote, calling the statement an 'excuse':
"Sure! They know it’s now impossible and to not lose face, they come up with this excuse. Just admit defeat and man up!"
"Another way of saying Lando was the wrong horse to back for the championship," wrote another fan, calling Norris the wrong driver competing for the title.
A fan wrote about Piastri, who won the sprint:
"Poor Oscar lost his sprint win for nothing."
Interestingly, McLaren carried out multiple driver swaps this season to put Norris at an advantageous position over Verstappen, which contradicts Stella's statement about prioritising the Constructors' championship.
Where do McLaren and Lando Norris stand in the Championship?
With five victories and 19 podiums after 21 races and five Sprints, McLaren lead the Constructors' Championship with 593 points. They are followed by Ferrari, spearheaded by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, with 557 points. The Prancing Horse have five victories and 18 podiums.
Defending champions Red Bull are closely behind Ferrari with 544 points. Max Verstappen's sole effort have kept them in the title hunt amid Sergio Perez's treacherous run of form. They have claimed eight victories, (all by Verstappen) and 17 podiums.
In the Drivers' Championship, Max Verstappen leads the pack with 393 points, eight wins and 13 podiums. Lando Norris is P2 with 331 points, three victories and 12 podiums. Leclerc follows Norris closely with 307 points, three victories and 11 podiums.
