MONZA, Italy – McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have presented a united front, defending the team’s decision to implement team orders during the Italian Grand Prix. Both drivers emphasized that the long-term health of the team and the morale of its personnel take precedence over any individual result.
The controversy arose after Piastri, who had taken second place following a slow pit stop for Norris caused by equipment failure, was instructed to relinquish the position back to his teammate. With the two drivers locked in a tight championship battle, the move drew significant scrutiny.
Piastri, currently leading the drivers’ standings, stated that supporting the team’s personnel is a critical component of their collective success. “We are both committed to McLaren for the long term,” he explained. “There are moments where you must consider the bigger picture, and ensuring the people who build and prepare our cars feel supported is non-negotiable. It’s a simple decision to put the team first.”
Norris echoed his teammate’s sentiment, firmly placing the team’s objectives above individual driver ambitions. “The team is the absolute priority; the drivers come second,” Norris affirmed. “We are only in our second season of competing for victories, and that opportunity comes entirely from the team’s hard work. Without them, we wouldn’t be in this position. Maintaining that collective spirit is paramount.”
However, the team’s principled stance has drawn skepticism from rival figures, who question its sustainability under the intense pressure of a title fight. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, who previously managed a fierce intra-team rivalry, expressed curiosity about how McLaren’s policy will hold up.
“There is no definitive right or wrong approach in these situations,” Wolff commented. “But you establish a precedent that can be very challenging to reverse. What happens if there is a different kind of team error in a future race? The circumstances can become increasingly complex to adjudicate as the season reaches its climax.”
The debate is set to continue as the championship battle intensifies, placing McLaren’s team-first philosophy under a microscope.
