At the 2024 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Lando Norris led McLaren for most of the weekend, maintaining a strong position before a slow pit stop compromised his second-place finish. This pit stop saga, centered around the Lando Norris McLaren pit stop, unfolded during a one-stop race strategy and culminated in controversial team orders that shuffled positions between Norris and his teammate, Oscar Piastri, who is also the current World Drivers’ Championship (WDC) points leader.
During the race, Piastri was instructed to pit first despite both McLaren drivers pushing their medium tires further than any other drivers on the grid. When Norris inquired whether the team considered an undercut by pitting him first, the response was negative. Piastri’s pit stop on lap 46 saw him switch to softer tires and rejoin 8.5 seconds ahead of Norris but still 19 seconds behind the leader, Max Verstappen.
Slow Tire Change Triggers Team Orders and Position Swap
Norris came into the pits on the following lap; however, a delayed tire change caused by an unsecured front-left wheel led to a longer stop than usual. This mishap caused Norris to re-enter the track behind Piastri. In response, McLaren’s pit box referenced a previous race incident at the Hungarian Grand Prix that year involving similar team orders designed to restore the fair race order among teammates.
Radio communication from Tom Stallard, McLaren’s sporting director, urged Piastri to allow Norris to reclaim second place:
This is a bit like Hungary last year; we pitted in this order for team reasons,
Stallard said.
Please let Lando pass, and then you’re free to race.
Though Piastri initially pushed back, arguing the slow stop was part of racing, he ultimately conceded the position to Norris:
I mean, we said that a slow pitstop was part of racing,
Piastri said.
I don’t really get what’s changed here, but if you really want to do it, I’ll do it.
Championship Implications and Reactions from Rivals
The switch had significant consequences for the WDC standings. Had Piastri maintained his third place behind Norris, he would have extended his points lead over the field to 37. Instead, McLaren’s drivers finished in the same order they started—Norris in second and Piastri third—narrowing the gap from 34 points to 31.
Max Verstappen, comfortably leading the race by nearly 20 seconds, was kept informed of the driver swap by his Red Bull race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. The engineer told Verstappen about the position exchange, to which Verstappen responded with amusement:
Ha! Just because he had a slow stop?
Lambiase replied,
It’s not our business, but I guess it keeps it fair between the drivers in terms of the championship,
adding,
You focus on the road ahead as well, please.
Drivers’ Responses Avoid Direct Comments on Team Orders
Neither Norris nor Piastri addressed the team orders explicitly during their podium interviews, instead deflecting attention toward race events preceding the pit stops and, for Norris, the pit stop itself. When asked about his lengthy stop, Norris simply said, No, I don’t know, and admitted,
I felt like I was there for quite a long time. Some days we make mistakes.
Context of Past Team Orders and Their Impact on McLaren’s Strategy
This race incident echoed earlier McLaren team orders, in particular those from the Hungarian Grand Prix last year. At that event, Norris pitted first while Piastri led the race, which altered the running order and temporarily gave Norris the lead. McLaren’s pitwall then had to manage the situation to restore what they considered to be the correct order between the teammates. Such strategic decisions highlight the delicate balance within team dynamics and championship battles when individual and collective goals intersect.
Outlook for McLaren’s Season and Team Dynamics
The fallout from the Monza pit stop drama signals ongoing tension within McLaren‘s ranks regarding strategy and driver management. While Piastri’s lead in the WDC has shrunk slightly, the battle remains close, and further situations involving team orders could arise as both drivers strive for top results. How McLaren navigates these internal challenges will likely influence their championship campaign and relationships moving forward.
