13/09/2025 12:35
Lando Norris has agreed with Oscar Piastri's claim that the pair
must "protect" McLaren personnel, following the bungled pit stop at
the Italian Grand Prix that cost the former track position to the
latter. The team's pit wall swapped the team-mates around in the
closing stages at Monza to right its wrong, but the unfortunate
episode has instigated a fresh round of scutiny over how the
Woking-based squad manages its drivers. In the aftermath, both
Piastri and Norris moved to diminish the magnitude of the team
orders that saw the Australian instructed to hand second place
back, returning to third at the Temple of Speed in the process. The
24-year-old was reluctant to agree to the instruction, but
ultimately fell in line. After getting out of the cockpit of his
MCL39, he voiced his support for the call , but did reiterate his
team radio message in the heat of the moment, "says enough." Both
drivers dismissed the suggestion that a precedent had been set and
were keen to explain why it is of paramount importance to put the
team first. After Piastri replied to being asked what it is about
McLaren's culture that makes it unique from its rivals in F1,
Norris expressed his agreement - and admiration for his team-mate's
response. "That was beautiful," the British driver told media,
including RacingNews365 , in reaction to Piastri's answer. "He said
it well. I don't need to add any more. "The team is the priority.
The team is number one, then the drivers are second. That's how it
works. "Normally, when you see teams who don't have enough respect
for the team and the opportunities the team gives, it doesn't
normally last long. You see that with plenty of other teams,
whether it's been Red Bull, Ferrari, or Mercedes." Norris explained
that the pair want a peak at McLaren that outlasts that of its
rivals, which will be no small feat, given Mercedes won eight
consecutive constructors' championships. "We want to try and be in
this position for a longer period of time than what they have been
at the top," the nine-time grand prix winner added. "Still early
days – it's only our second year of fighting for wins. "But like
Oscar said, the team gives us these opportunities. Without the
team, then we're just fighting for tenth, and none of us want that.
So team and the morale, the spirit of the team, is priority, and
we're below that."
