Martin Brundle and Karun Chandhok agree on what Oscar Piastri did wrong in Lando Norris crash at US Grand Prix

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McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris dramatically collided at the start of the United States Grand Prix Sprint on Saturday. The damage was enough to end both drivers’ races.

Piastri started one place behind Norris in third but got a better initial launch, pulling alongside on the ascent to turn one. The Briton covered off the inside, and the championship leader attempted a switch-back manoeuvre.

However, Piastri then tagged the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg, spearing him into Norris. It’s the second time this season they’ve crashed.

The first incident came in Canada, when Norris tagged the rear of Piastri’s car and slammed into the wall. He took responsibility on that occasion, but the stewards ruled this was a racing incident – as they often do when two teammates are involved.

Martin Brundle says Oscar Piastri took a ‘huge’ risk in US Grand Prix Sprint

Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle doubts there will be any ‘repercussions’ for the incident. McLaren CEO Zak Brown immediately indicated that he wouldn’t apportion to blame to either driver.

Brundle felt, overall, that it was a typical first-corner incident at the US Grand Prix. The pinch point often creates ‘demolition derby’ scenarios.

The mistake Piastri made, he says, was cutting back so aggressively. It was ‘inevitable’ that a car – in this case star qualifier Hulkenberg – would be on his inside.

“I don’t think there’ll be any repercussions at McLaren because it was basically just Piastri getting spun around,” Brundle said.

“Piastri yields to his teammate and tried to cut underneath him, and that’s when he made contact with Hulkenberg, goes up on two wheels and slams into his teammate. It’s just a first-corner incident in Formula 1.

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“Piastri gives him a load of space, tries to double back underneath him and, I must say, almost inevitably there’s a car there.

“It was high risk for Oscar Piastri to turn that hard. There was a greater than 50% chance that someone would be on the inside at that corner on this particular track.

“It was a demolition derby, the first two corners. Not impressive to watch at all in many respects. In the end, it was a typical racing incident at turn one at this track.”

“As I said, for Oscar, there was at least a 50% chance that there would be a car on the inside of him, I’m afraid. It was a bona fide move, cutting back, but the risk of that happening was huge.”

Karun Chandhok agrees with Martin Brundle after McLaren crash

Fellow Sky pundit Karun Chandhok offered a similar reaction. He reckons Hulkenberg was surprised by Piastri’s aggression.

But he also ruled that it was a ‘classic’ Circuit of the Americas crash. McLaren will review the incident before Mexico but their focus must turn to the Grand Prix sessions, with a repair job looming.

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“Personally, I do think Oscar turned quite sharply left,” said Chandhok. “Maybe Nico didn’t expect that. To me, it’s a classic Austin turn one, three into one doesn’t go.”