08/09/2025 09:15
McLaren found itself subject to another team orders drama at the
Italian Grand Prix after its pit-stops for Lando Norris and Oscar
Piastri. Running second, Piastri was pitted first to protect from
Charles Leclerc behind, but leapfrogged ahead of Norris as Max
Verstappen cycled back through to the lead. However, McLaren's plan
was disrupted by a slow pit-stop for Norris on the lap after
Piastri, with the delay ensuring Piastri got ahead of his
team-mate, cue the team orders decision to allow Norris back into
the second place he had held throughout the race. Piastri
acquiesced, but post-race, both drivers faced fierce questions
about the latest drama between the two. The end result is that
Piastri now leads by 31 points in the championship rather than the
37 it could have been had he ignored the instruction. Below, you
can read the full team radio transcripts from McLaren. The radio
exchanges below feature Lando Norris ( LN), Oscar Piastri ( OP),
Norris's race engineer Will Joseph ( WJ) and Piastri's Tom Stallard
( TS), and begin on Lap 34 when after Leclerc had pitted and the
soft tyre strategy was coming into play. Full McLaren radio
transcripts Lap 34 Will Joseph ( WJ): Leclerc is the car behind
Oscar. He's just pitted now for a hard tyre. This does not change
what we're doing. Lap 36 WJ: And Lando, what are your thoughts on
the soft tyre? Lando Norris ( LN): Well, I guess the opposite to
the car ahead (Max Verstappen) WJ: Check right-hand toggle LN:
Yeah, I got dirty air already from the car ahead. Lap 38 WJ:
Verstappen has pitted for the hard tyre. We keep going for Safety
Cars. LN: Yeah , I need blue flags. WJ: You need to get closer. Lap
45 WJ: And Lando, the gap to Verstappen is now 11.1. Lando, we
will box this lap onto the soft tyre and come up one [on the front
wing]. LN: Did you want to box the other car first? WJ: Yep, we'll
do that. We'll swap it around so stay out. LN: Well, only if he
doesn't undercut, otherwise I'll box first. WJ: There will be no
undercut. Confirming we are staying out LN: Yeah, confirm. Oscar
Piastri then pits on Lap 45, emerging ahead of Leclerc but McLaren
quickly realise something could be up after Lando Norris's own slow
Lap 46 stop. The pit-stops WJ: And confirming we are boxing this
lap. LN: Confirmed. Tom Stallard (TS) Launch map off, launch map
off. Strat six, Strat six, standard out-lap. Leclerc crossing
start-finish now. Oscar, control the out-lap. We are boxing the
cars this way around to ensure you cover Leclerc. You are free with
Lando once he's ahead of the pit exit. TS: Lando is pitting this
lap. WJ: Need strat six, please, strat six. Lando Norris suffers
slow pit-stop on front-left. WJ: Launch map, launch map, this could
now be close at [pit] exit (between Norris and Piastri) TS: May be
close at exit, Lando slow stop. WJ: Peess the overtake button
Norris rejoins behind Piastri. TS: Oscar, six laps to go, priority
is not to drain this tyre. WJ: Strat seven, strat seven. WJ:
Lando, we're going to re-establish the order. So he will let you
past, then you'll be free to race. He might let you through into
Turn 1 this time around. TS: Oscar , this is a bit like Hungary
last year. We pitted in this order for team reasons. Please let
Lando pass , and you're free to race. Oscar Piastri (OP): I mean,
we said that a slow pit stop was part of racing. I don't really get
what's changed here. But if you really want to do it , then I'll do
it. TS: Let's have strat seven. Suggest to let him through into
Turn 1. Let through into Turn 1. This is the same as Hungary last
year. I know it's painful, but you will have five laps remaining
from now. Piastri lets Norris by into Turn 1 on Lap 49 of 53, with
five laps remaining. WJ: Okay, you're free to race. TS: Thanks ,
Oscar, you're free to race, clinical, clear head , mate. WJ: Okay ,
Lando, push-and-hold will be available . We're going to have to use
it ; they've got DRS. Lando, suggest strat 13, strat 13.
