Hear from McLaren F1 drivers Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Team Principal Andrea Stella after the 2023 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Lando Norris
Tough race! It was not the pace we wanted, but we did what we could to score essential points to finish the season. We lost out a position in the pit stop, so it’s a shame, but otherwise, I think I did what I could. We were just not quite strong enough today.
Overall, we can be happy with how everything has gone because we’ve done what we needed to do as a team by securing P4 in the Constructors’ Championship. We have had plenty of ups from the start of the season. The last few months have been great for the Team, and we’ll take that momentum into the winter to come back stronger next year.
Thank you to all the team members at the track and back at MTC who have worked hard this season to give us a car to compete towards the front of the grid. We have made some memories this year, and I’m looking forward to pushing on together in 2024.
Oscar Piastri
It was slightly tricky today, but P4 in the Constructors’ is still an excellent effort.
We know we want to aim for more than that next year, but I’ve greatly enjoyed my first year of F1. There have been some great highlights and trickier moments, but it’s all part of the experience. I’m looking forward to some time off now.
Thank you to the team trackside, and in Woking, thank you to all the fans for sticking with us on our rollercoaster this year. We’ll be back fighting for more next year.
Andrea Stella
We would have liked to finish on the podium for the season’s final race, but today, we didn’t have enough pace. This doesn’t detract from an incredible season. It was a fantastic turnaround, made possible by everybody’s hard work. To finish fourth in the Championship with nine podiums, achieve a victory in the Sprint race, three more podiums in the Sprint race, two pole positions in the Sprint Shootout, and deliver the fastest pit stop in history is an excellent achievement for the Team. All of this was made possible by the work, commitment, effort and talent of the men and women at McLaren and our colleagues at HPP. I am so proud and so thankful to all team members.
This is a strong foundation for the future, and we can’t wait to confirm this next season. Thanks to our fans, sponsors and partners who have been so supportive and enthusiastic. We are on this journey together and look forward to the next phase.
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