McLaren: Balance between Norris and Piastri, Justice in F1?

Verstappen Mocks McLaren’s Strategy at Monza

In the Italian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen, approaching victory, couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the orange cars following him. McLaren’s instruction to swap positions between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri provoked laughter from the Red Bull driver.

Ha! Just because [Norris] had a slow stop?

Max Verstappen

The situation, which unfolded after McLaren’s pit stops, was notable. Verstappen, stopping earlier, conceded track position. McLaren opted for a late-stop strategy, seeking to capitalize on a possible Safety Car, a common tactic to overtake the leader. However, what followed was not usual. Piastri, in his stop, exited without problems in 1.9 seconds. Norris’s stop, a lap later, was slower, losing four seconds, which relegated him behind his teammate. McLaren intervened, asking Piastri to yield the position to Norris in the name of “fairness”, a recurring term in the following hours. Piastri complied, although with some reluctance.

We said a slow stop was part of racing. I don’t really see what has changed here. But if you want me to, I will.

Oscar Piastri

Norris regained second position, which reduced his lead in the championship. Verstappen, in contrast, would not have behaved in the same way, as he demonstrated in the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix, refusing to yield the position to his then teammate, Sergio Pérez. McLaren, on the other hand, has sought equity between its drivers, who have maintained an intense rivalry since the beginning of the season. McLaren’s decision, although based on fairness, raises questions about its strategic limitations. By prioritizing equity, the team could find itself in trouble in the fight for the title. This incident, added to other moments of the season, has generated debate about the team’s decisions. The team boss, Toto Wolff, suggested that McLaren had opened a “Pandora’s box” in Monza. The question is: who decides what is fair and unfair, and what are the criteria for doing so? As the championship progresses, these decisions will be increasingly discussed. Norris and Piastri have expressed their commitment to the team’s decisions, but the situation raises questions about how McLaren will handle similar future scenarios. McLaren’s strategy of reviewing its decisions, without ruling out changes, shows its focus on continuous improvement.

Oscar Piastri, on the left, and Lando Norris, on the right, have mostly maintained harmony within the McLaren team during their battle for the F1 championship.