Andrea Stella targets Monza podium for McLaren drivers despite qualifying grid penalties

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella maintains that a podium result is possible at the Monza circuit despite a difficult qualifying session. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are set to start the race from sixth and eighth positions respectively. Piastri dropped three grid places after receiving a penalty for impeding Liam Lawson during Q2, while Norris reported issues with the car's brakes. Despite these setbacks, the team showed strong pace during the earlier segments of qualifying. Stella identified suboptimal execution regarding slipstream positioning and battery energy management as primary factors that prevented a higher starting position. The team remains focused on strategic decision-making and driving precision to move forward during Sunday's race.