McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said the squad understood Oscar Piastri's frustration during the Hungarian Grand Prix but stood by its decision to pit the Australian driver first. Piastri lost the lead to teammate Lando Norris after a backmarker incident and later retired with a gearbox failure. Norris claimed McLaren's first victory of the 2026 season.
Stella explained that the team needed to cover a potential undercut from Lewis Hamilton on lap 34. Piastri was leading at the time, so the squad chose to stop him first to protect position against Ferrari.
Piastri had taken the lead early after passing Norris on the opening lap. He voiced strong frustration on the radio after being held up by Carlos Sainz, which allowed Norris to emerge ahead following the second stops. Piastri later acknowledged the strategy was correct and that his comments stemmed from the heat of the moment.
Stella noted that Piastri clarified his remarks immediately after the race and that the team had evaluated options such as swapping positions. Norris was managed for reliability reasons while leading, and McLaren did not need to alter the order to secure the win.
