How McLaren’s pit wall orchestrated the Lando Norris-Oscar Piastri position swap at Monza. During the Monza GP, Oscar Piastri was told by McLaren to let Lando Norris regain track position after a slow pit stop.

McLaren team radio: how Piastri was instructed to let Norris pass at Monza

Oscar Piastri, initially told via radio to give way to Lando Norris, made it clear that according to McLaren’s internal rules, a slow pit stop was simply part of racing and it was not his responsibility to let Norris recover the lost position. However, the persistence of the McLaren pit wall, which explicitly referenced the reversed-incident from the 2024 Hungarian GP, made him change his mind. It’s worth noting that Norris himself never commented over the radio while the team decided to “adjust” positions on track.

The McLaren team radios

Below is the translated transcript of the team radio communications that led to the position swap between Norris and Piastri, ultimately affecting the final race order.

Lap 45/53 (McLaren discussing pit stop order to cover Leclerc)

Joseph: “Lando, this lap we’ll pit for the softs, and then I’ll come up with a solution.”
Norris: “Do you want the other car to pit first?”
Joseph: “Yes, let’s do that. We’ll swap positions, so stay out.”
Norris: “Well, only if he doesn’t undercut, otherwise I’ll pit first.”
Joseph: “There will be no undercut. Confirming we stay out.”
Norris: “Ok, confirmed.”

Lap 46/53

Stallard (to Piastri): “We stopped in this order to make sure we could cover Leclerc. You’ll be free to race Lando once he is ahead after the pit exit. Lando pits this lap.”

Lap 47/53

Stallard: “You might be close at the exit. Lando had a slow stop.”

Laps 48-49/53

Stallard: “Ok, this is a bit like Hungary last year. We did the stops in this order for team reasons. Please let Lando through, then you’ll be free to race.”
Piastri: “I mean…we said a slow stop is part of racing. I really don’t understand what changed here. But if you really want me to, I’ll do it.”
Stallard: “I suggest you let him pass in Turn 1. Let him through Turn 1. This is the same as what happened in Hungary last year. I know it’s painful, but you’ll have five laps from now.”
Stallard: “Thanks Oscar. Now you’re free to race.”

Joseph: “Lando, we’ll restore the order. So [Piastri] will let you through and then you’ll be free to race. He might let you through at Turn 1.”

Joseph: “Ok, you’re free to race.”