McLaren admits it made an error with the strategy gamble for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

McLaren's team principal, Andrea Stella admitted that his team committed blunders with strategy during the recently concluded Qatar GP. Speaking to the media after the race, Stella revealed that the team will review the decision they made on Lap 7.

McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris started the race from P1 and P2 places, respectively. However, they lost control of the race, and ultimately the race win and a podium after the Papayas failed to make use of the Safety Car in Lap 7.

In Lap 7 of the race, Nico Hulkenberg went off and brought in a Safety Car after getting knocked by Pierre Gasly. Utilizing the opportunity, Red Bull called in Max Verstappen under SC and pitted him, while Norris and Piastri stayed out.

As both Papaya drivers had to pit under normal conditions, they lost time to Verstappen, and in the end, finished the races in P2 (Piastri), and P4 (Norris). Verstappen, on the other hand, won the race.

"It's a disappointing result overall," Stella said. "We had the potential to win the race with Oscar, he deserved that. He was fastest in qualifying and the sprint. Certainly the podium was available for Lando but we lost the victory with Oscar and we lost the podium with Lando.

"Definitely not the outcome we wanted. Something we will review with the decision we made when there was the Safety Car on Lap 7. As usual we will learn from racing and will get stronger for the next event, which will become more important."

Carlos Sainz finished the race in P3. Kimi Antonelli and George Russell came home in P5, and P6, respectively. Fernando Alonso, Charles Leclerc, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda wrapped up the Top 10.

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McLaren's Oscar Piastri unhappy with Qatar GP outcome

Oscar Piastri let his feelings known after McLaren faltered with the strategy during the Qatar GP. Speaking to the media in the post-race interview, here's what the Australian driver said:

Second placed Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren in the Drivers Press Conference during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar - Source: Getty

"Clearly we did not get it right tonight. I drove as fast as I could but wasn't to be. In hindsight it is pretty obvious what we should have done, but we'll discuss that as a team. A little bit tough to swallow at the moment."

After 23 races and six sprints, Lando Norris still leads the championship with 408 points as Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri follow him with 396 and 392 points, respectively.