Norris defends McLaren: “We do things our own way”
Lando Norris has pushed back against criticism following the controversial position swap with teammate Oscar Piastri at Monza, reaffirming that McLaren will stick to its approach and race principles moving forward.
The British driver emphasized that the team’s decisions were dictated by complex circumstances, including Charles Leclerc’s undercut, and that both he and Piastri continue to enjoy freedom on track. Still, Norris finds himself 31 points behind his teammate with just eight races remaining, aware that every detail could make the difference.
What happened at Monza?
Norris explained that criticism of McLaren for allowing him to reclaim second place at the Italian Grand Prix is not an issue for the team, promising that they will remain true to their race principles. At Monza, McLaren instructed Piastri to let Norris regain the second position following a problematic pit stop for the British driver. This decision also involved reversing their usual pit stop sequence, with Piastri pitting first. The move sparked criticism from fans and media, who viewed McLaren as overly controlling in the intra-team battle.
Controversial move: Norris expected it
Norris was not surprised by the negative reactions from experts and fans. He said:
“In today’s world, this isn’t surprising, because everyone wants to be negative and criticize others. Headlines are needed, and people need to read the news. There’s more negativity than positivity. Honestly, it’s not a surprise, but it doesn’t affect us as a team. We continue to do things our own way. Whether people agree or not is not our problem and honestly doesn’t matter. So we’re happy. We focus on ourselves. We want it to be fair for both of us, and people can comment whatever they want afterwards.”
As usual, McLaren held a team meeting to review the situation and provide further details to both drivers, aware that the decision could create internal tension. Norris added:
“Some things needed clarification. There were details I didn’t know during post-race interviews, such as Leclerc’s undercut. That influenced the reasoning behind the team’s decision. And it wasn’t just the pit stop that determined the choice – it was more about the other factors. There was a clarification, but nothing beyond that, and both of us agreed and accepted it.”
Norris insisted that he and Oscar Piastri remain free to race hard “99% of the time” as the title battle intensifies. He added:
“The fact is, once positions were restored, Oscar could race me freely. We’ve always had freedom to race. It’s just that during a pit stop, the driver in front always has priority. That’s always been the rule and it will continue to be. For everything else, we’re free to race.”
The Monza result leaves Norris 31 points behind Oscar Piastri, starting with this weekend’s Azerbaijan GP, which Oscar Piastri won last year after a tight battle with Leclerc. Piastri is a different driver this season, adding consistent performance to his undeniable speed, and Norris expects fierce battles through to the Abu Dhabi season finale in December.
“When I look at last year’s results, Singapore was one of my best races. But Oscar has improved this season, so even if I had a big advantage last year, that’s behind me, and I need to reset and focus on the next weekend. At the same time, the car has changed, and some of the feelings and confidence I had last year on certain tracks aren’t the same this year. Neither of us has dominated any weekend this season. I just expect close battles, and every little detail will matter.”
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