- Lando Norris confirmed McLaren drivers are still cleared to race each other, but repeat clashes will not be permitted following their Singapore Grand Prix collision.
- Norris took responsibility for the incident with Oscar Piastri and revealed he received internal reprimands ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin.
- The British driver raised concerns regarding McLaren’s machinery, stating the car is excessively difficult to drive at the limit and needs to be more drivable to sustain a championship fight.
McLaren Internal Policy Clarified Ahead of United States Grand Prix
Lando Norris has provided clarity regarding McLaren’s intra-team rules of engagement ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, following an on-track clash with teammate Oscar Piastri at the previous round in Singapore. The two drivers made contact on the final lap of the Singapore Sprint race. Although race stewards officially ruled the collision as a racing incident, Norris publicly took personal responsibility for the misjudgment.
Addressing the press on Thursday at the Circuit of the Americas, Norris explained the internal fallout from the clash and detailed where McLaren management stands regarding team orders. Norris confirmed that while he faced strict reprimands behind closed doors, neither he nor Piastri has been issued outright restrictive orders, provided they keep their racing clean.
“I got plenty of telling-offs, and plenty of words have been said. But we’re still allowed to race,”
said Norris.
“But of course, we can’t have what happened last weekend, or what happened here last year [where the pair collided at Turn 1 in the Sprint], happening again.
“So, no, we’re still allowed to race, but obviously we can’t have a coming together, and we have to avoid that at every opportunity possible.”
Handling Difficulties and McLaren’s Performance Ceiling
Beyond intra-team dynamics, Norris touched on the current technical capabilities and challenges of the McLaren package. The Woking-based outfit has experienced a dip from its peak mid-season momentum, when Norris secured consecutive victories in Hungary and the Netherlands alongside three pole positions. According to Norris, those achievements disguised the underlying operational difficulty of extracting lap time from the car.
Norris emphasized that extracting single-lap pace on the limit requires an unsustainable level of risk due to the car’s handling traits.
“This was a car in which putting together a Qualifying lap was almost impossible, and being as quick as we were was almost impossible,”
said Norris.
“I mean, I was on pole three times by, I don’t know, two hundredths of a second or something — or not even on pole. So, you know, it wasn’t like we were just winning everything and it was easy.
“The car was probably one of the hardest cars I’ve ever had to drive. But I was putting things together, driving well, and I could get away with it.
“But this isn’t a car you can win a championship with. I still believe a win is possible this year. We just need a quicker car now if we want to get another win.
“But going into next year, we need a car that’s a lot more drivable and easier to drive. Because, yeah, you cannot win a championship with how difficult the car is to drive at the minute.”
Why This Matters
McLaren’s handling of driver competition is pivotal as they contest high-stakes finishes in the latter stages of the Formula 1 season. With historical friction points already logged—including a similar incident at Austin’s Turn 1 during the previous year’s Sprint—team management must maintain discipline to maximize points. Furthermore, Norris’s direct assessment of the car’s drivability provides insight into McLaren’s technical trajectory, indicating that the design team must prioritize an expanded operational window and balance rather than chasing peak aerodynamic performance alone for their upcoming campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did McLaren ban Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri from racing each other?
No. Lando Norris confirmed that McLaren still allows both drivers to race wheel-to-wheel, with the strict condition that any contact or collision between the two cars must be avoided.
What happened between Norris and Piastri in Singapore?
The two McLaren drivers collided on the final lap of the Sprint session in Singapore. The FIA stewards deemed the contact a racing incident, though Norris personally accepted responsibility for the clash.
What improvements does Norris want from McLaren for future development?
Norris stated that while the car has shown front-running outright pace, it remains one of the hardest cars he has driven. He stressed that McLaren must produce a vehicle that is significantly more drivable and predictable to legitimately contend for a World Championship.
