McLaren admit they messed up with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris

McLaren has acknowledged that their approach to managing the on-track battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri during a crucial race was flawed. The team’s decision to allow free racing between their two drivers had unintended consequences, particularly for Norris’s championship hopes.



The Controversial On-Track Battle



During the race, McLaren opted not to impose team orders, allowing Norris and Piastri to compete freely. While this approach is often praised for fostering fair competition, it came at a cost. Piastri executed a daring move on Norris, seizing an opportunity that ultimately shifted the race dynamics.



As a result, Norris found himself losing ground, finishing behind a key rival. The lost points in the championship battle meant that what could have been a major opportunity to close the gap instead turned into a missed chance. Had team orders been applied, Norris might have secured a stronger finish and gained more points in the title fight.



Zak Brown Acknowledges the Mistake



Following the race, McLaren CEO Zak Brown admitted that the team had made the wrong call. “We got that wrong, and if we are going to win the constructors’, we need to minimize the mistakes,” he stated.



Brown’s comments reflect a larger concern within McLaren about optimizing strategy, not just for race wins but also for the overall championship standings. While allowing both drivers to race is generally a fair approach, there are moments where strategic intervention is necessary.



Norris Reflects on the Incident



Lando Norris also looked back at the situation with some frustration, believing the lack of team strategy had a direct impact on the race outcome. “If I expected him to do that [the overtaking move], he would never have had the chance to do it. It probably cost us the win,” he admitted.



Norris’s words suggest that, while he respects Piastri’s racing ability, he felt the move was unexpected and avoidable had McLaren taken a firmer stance. Given the tight nature of the championship fight, any lost points at this stage can have significant consequences later in the season.



A Shift in Strategy Moving Forward



McLaren’s misjudgment in this race has prompted the team to reassess its stance on team orders. While competition between teammates is valuable, the primary goal remains securing the best possible results for the team and its championship aspirations.



Moving forward, it is likely that McLaren will introduce clearer guidelines regarding intra-team battles. This could mean imposing restrictions in certain race situations to ensure that both drivers work towards a common objective rather than inadvertently compromising each other’s results.



Lessons Learned



The Norris-Piastri incident highlights the delicate balance that teams must maintain when managing multiple competitive drivers. While fans often enjoy seeing teammates battle on track, there are moments when strategic intervention is necessary for the greater good of the team.
The post McLaren admit they messed up with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk .