Peter Windsor tells McLaren what they’re missing on the pit wall in battle with Red Bull

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McLaren is on the verge of taking its first Constructors’ Championship since the 1998 Formula 1 season, but there are still five races to overcome.

The team has arguably been Red Bull’s closest challengers this year, with Max Verstappen suffering a win drought for the first time since the 2020 season. The last time he took victory was in June at the Spanish Grand Prix, while he took a consolation win during the Sprint in Austin last weekend.

McLaren has arguably been the team to beat, but both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been guilty of throwing away points on race weekends. Norris was on pole for the US GP but fumbled at the first corner again when battling with Verstappen.

Later in the race he managed to utilise the tyre offset to pile pressure on Verstappen for the final podium, but was ran wide and overtook him off track at Turn 12. McLaren initially told him to stay ahead because they felt he reached the apex of the corner, but the stewards ruled that Verstappen was entitled to the corner.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Norris rued the decision afterwards and questioned why the team didn’t tell him to give it back. Peter Windsor believes it was the fault of the team and questioned why they were making poor decisions when speaking on his YouTube.

Peter Windsor questions McLaren decision making after Lando Norris penalty

Norris was penalised because he put all four wheels off-track and completed the overtake on Verstappen, while team principal Andrea Stella felt it did not warrant stewards intervention.

Windsor believes the team must make stronger decisions on the pit wall instead of taking the ‘soft option’ especially given they could have two title contenders driving for them next season.

“The decision’s reek of not wanting to make the wrong decision, and therefore going for the best possible average decision because it won’t lead to too much trouble. If that was Frederic Vasseur he would have told Charles Leclerc to drop back immediately and repass him on the next lap,” said Windsor.

“Instead, there was this soft option of ‘Maybe’ and nobody took a decision. It was ‘Oh we’ll jump on the radio and tell him to keep going’, and that’s being typical of these five races.

“They just need a strong person on the pit wall making the decisions but with a clear view of where they are going. If you have two ultra-quick drivers you have to be very, very careful how you manage them.”

McLaren feel Max Verstappen is ‘gaming’ rules in Lando Norris battle

Verstappen’s driving conduct has come under the spotlight again after the US GP because of how he effectively forced Norris off track.

McLaren feels that Verstappen is ‘gaming’ the rules to his advantage by forcing Norris off, therefore making it impossible for him to complete a move.

READ MORE: McLaren and Red Bull championship battle now hinges on three unexpected talking points

George Russell was penalised for less than what Verstappen got away with twice at the Circuit of the Americas, but unlike the Dutchman he stayed within track limits.

Toto Wolff ended up accusing the US GP stewards of being biased when they handed Russell his five-second time penalty for forcing Valtteri Bottas off-track at the same corner Verstappen did to Norris.