What McLaren are now saying ‘off record’ about Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after Monza team orders

Follow us on Google Discover

McLaren were once again at the centre of the biggest talking point in the Formula 1 paddock after the Italian Grand Prix.

It looked like a relatively straightforward double podium for McLaren at Monza, even if they were no match for Max Verstappen on this occasion.

Verstappen’s engineering genius earned him his third victory of the season, despite Lando Norris giving him an early scare at the start of the race.

Oscar Piastri looked like he was going to have to settle for third place until the most controversial moment of the Italian Grand Prix played out.

Piastri accidentally undercut Norris after a slow pit stop and was asked by McLaren to give the place back.

At first, the drivers’ championship leader seemed hesitant, even questioning on the team radio whether a pit stop error was contained within the team’s papaya rules.

However, he duly complied and dutifully gave up three points to his closest rival in the championship.

Martin Brundle gave his verdict on McLaren’s team orders during the race, and fans are fascinated by the extent to which both drivers will now go to continue putting the team first.

Journalists Jon Noble and Edd Straw shared what they had heard from the team about their relationship and willingness to comply with team rules that could become harder and harder to follow as the season goes on.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

Oscar Piastri sources don’t believe he would have given up Monza win despite McLaren team orders

Speaking on The Race F1 Podcast after Monza, Noble explained: “If this had been for first and second position here, and if Lando hadn’t had the engine failure last weekend, and if the championship fight was on a knife-edge edge and this was a difference between heading into Baku leading the championship, and heading into Baku behind in the championship, then I think at the very least, we would have had more arguing from Oscar on the radio debating the point, clarifying things, pushing it.

“Just as we had with Lando in Hungary last year, then, in the end, I’m not sure what he would have done.

“We spoke to someone in the paddock tonight who knows Oscar quite well, and reckons for the win, he wouldn’t have given it up, he would have taken it. I’m not so sure.”

Straw replied: “I think he’d have thought about it quite seriously. I think that would move into think about it territory.

“If that was Abu Dhabi and that would swing the world championship, then there’s no way he would do it. McLaren might ask, but there’s no way he would do it.

“I think there’s no doubt that Piastri has got that ruthless streak that you need to have. I say that as a positive.

“There may come a time when he needs to do that.”

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

What McLaren are now saying ‘off record’ about Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

Straw was then asked whether McLaren want their drivers to race between now and the end of the season, and he continued: “I genuinely, really think they do.

“Knowing how Zak Brown and Andrea Stella operate, knowing what they talk about, what they talk about off record as well.

“They are trying not to do what Mercedes did during the Hamilton and Rosberg era, and control everything and do the same strategies, everyone complained about that.

“But, they are genuinely trying to make the racing happen between the two, but they’re also trying to make sure they are able to take the wins that are there.”

Piastri has been told he has a ‘card to play’ at McLaren after accepting the team’s orders to let Norris by.

The debate will rage on as to whether it was similar enough to Hungary last season to justify using that as an excuse over the team radio to the Australian.

McLaren’s team orders to Piastri in Australia were arguably more unfair, as he was told he couldn’t even race Norris.

All of these calculations will be done at the end of the season when either Piastri or Norris have clinched their maiden F1 world championship.