Verstappen Mocks McLaren’s Strategy at the Italian Grand Prix
In the final laps of the Italian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen, as he headed for victory, couldn’t help but laugh as he observed the situation of the orange cars that were following him. The Red Bull driver’s laughter was inevitable upon learning that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, teammates and McLaren title contenders, had swapped positions at the order of their team. “Ha! Just because Norris had a slow pit stop?” Verstappen commented. This moment, which generated disbelief, was a turning point in a championship battle that has been hard-fought. The situation unfolded after McLaren’s pit stops. Verstappen stopped earlier, yielding position on the track. The McLaren team chose to stop as late as possible, seeking to take advantage of a Safety Car period at the end, a standard strategy in F1. However, what followed was unconventional. Piastri, in the second car, was the first to pit, with a smooth 1.9-second stop. Norris’s stop, a lap later, took four seconds longer, enough time for him to come out behind his teammate and rival.Before Piastri’s advantage was consolidated, McLaren intervened, requesting the Australian to yield his position to his teammate for the sake of “fairness”, a term repeated in the following hours. Piastri, after a brief protest, complied. Norris regained second place, reducing his lead in the championship to 31 points.
It’s unlikely that Verstappen would have reacted the same way. In the press conference, flanked by Norris and Piastri, Verstappen responded: “It’s not my problem” and “It’s better not to talk about it.” The situation at McLaren contrasts with that of Red Bull, where Verstappen refused to obey a team order at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix. McLaren, on the other hand, has sought a fair deal for its two drivers, who have been involved in an intense battle for the title. McLaren CEO Zak Brown has confidence in the driver lineup, and the results back it up.
Despite tense moments, the relationship between the drivers has been respectful. Piastri’s decision to concede position to his rival exemplifies McLaren’s culture, according to team boss Andrea Stella. Piastri acknowledged that the request was fair, as Norris had qualified ahead and led the race.
However, this search for justice could lead McLaren to a complicated situation in the fight for the title. The team could be overthinking and interfering excessively. Sunday’s team order and Piastri’s decision have complicated the team’s future decisions. McLaren’s situation has been put to the test on several occasions. In the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, Norris yielded to Piastri. In Monza, the “papaya rules” almost caused an incident. The conversation about team orders has intensified, and Norris clarified that the decision was a team agreement. McLaren justified the decision to pit Piastri first to take advantage of a possible Safety Car. Stella highlighted that the intention was not to swap positions, but Norris’ slow pit stop caused it. The insistence on correcting errors has not been consistent. At the British Grand Prix, McLaren did not respond to Piastri’s suggestion to swap positions after a penalty. This situation raises questions about who decides what is fair and the criteria for doing so, especially as the championship progresses. Toto Wolff, who managed the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, suggested that McLaren has opened a Pandora’s box. Wolff questioned the possibility of the team reversing decisions in the future. Norris and Piastri have commented on how the team would respond if a perfect weekend were ruined by a slow pit stop. Piastri suggested that, if there are no other cars involved, the situation is straightforward. McLaren will review the last laps of Monza before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but no change of approach is expected. Stella affirmed that the review is essential and that the team will not change its focus, but rather align and confirm it.
