Lando Norris expressed frustration with fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri for getting “way too close for comfort” during a first-lap overtake at the Italian Grand Prix, which ultimately affected his race outcome.
Starting from pole position, Norris was hoping to capitalize on the opportunity to gain ground on championship leader Max Verstappen but instead finished third. Piastri pulled off a surprising move around the outside at Turn 4, seizing the lead, while Norris lost valuable positions, including his second spot to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Reflecting on the race, Norris remarked, “Paddy got way too close for comfort. If I had braked just one meter later, it could have been disastrous.” He acknowledged that they both faced pressure but noted, “I took it easy; maybe I was too cautious and paid the price.”
Piastri, currently 106 points behind Verstappen in the standings, defended his maneuver, stating, “I braked later and managed to get around the outside. There wasn’t much more to it. I knew I was entitled to stay there.”
Despite the setback, Norris remains optimistic about his chances of catching Verstappen, especially after reducing the gap to 62 points. He stated, “I believe we can still do this. We’re working well together as a team, but every little thing counts when fighting for the championship.”
Rosberg Comments on Team Dynamics
Sky Sports F1’s Nico Rosberg suggested that there would likely be “heated discussions” within McLaren regarding the incident. He explained the “papaya rules” meant that while the McLaren drivers are allowed to race each other, they must do so without making contact.
Rosberg noted, “It’s a fine line, and determining whether Oscar went over that line will lead to some difficult conversations.”
With their focus shifting to the next race in Baku on September 13-15, both Norris and Piastri will need to navigate their teammates’ dynamic carefully as they continue their pursuit of the championship.
Credit: Sky News
