Andrea Stella has detailed why McLaren chose not to intervene after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided on the first lap of the Singapore Grand Prix, resulting in Norris maintaining the lead. The incident occurred after Norris moved ahead of Piastri, sparking frustration from the Australian driver who questioned the team’s decision amidst the confusion.
The clash happened at Turn 3 when Norris inadvertently made contact with Piastri’s car following an earlier touch with Max Verstappen’s rear wing. This contact caused minor damage to Norris’ front wing but did not lead to any immediate action from McLaren to swap their drivers back.
Details of the Incident and Drivers’ Reactions
Shortly after the contact, Piastri expressed his displeasure over team radio, asking if the team was
“cool with Lando barging past me,”
signaling that he believed Norris’ move lacked teamwork. This tension came only weeks after Piastri had obeyed a team request during the Italian Grand Prix to allow Norris to pass following a slow pit stop.
Despite Piastri’s complaints about the situation being “not fair,” McLaren confirmed Norris would remain ahead on track. Ultimately, Piastri faced further setbacks during the race, including a slow pit stop that cost him valuable time, resulting in a fourth-place finish just two seconds behind Norris. The team ended the race with Norris in third, securing a back-to-back Constructors’ Championship, while Piastri’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship was cut to 22 points with six races remaining.
Andrea Stella on Reviewing the First-Lap Incident
After the race, McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged the incident as part of the close racing that can happen in Formula 1 and pledged to conduct a thorough review. Stella emphasized viewing such events as learning opportunities that can strengthen team unity.
I think the first-lap situation is one of those that can happen. It is close racing. We will review the situation together with our drivers,
Stella said.
He added that the team would have “good conversations” similar to those held after the Canadian Grand Prix and hoped to emerge more united and stronger.
Stella also highlighted how drivers are encouraged to assert themselves on track, noting that Oscar’s immediate reaction over the radio reflected the character McLaren wants from its drivers. He said,
At the same time, we have to put things in perspective, the perspective of a driver that is in Formula 1 car, with the intensity of it being the first lap, and he expected that, obviously, he just saw Lando moving on to him, but we know that Lando, in reality, had a contact with Verstappen and oversteered onto Oscar. So we will have good reviews, good conversations, and like after Canada, will come back stronger and even more united.
Explaining Why McLaren Did Not Intervene in the Singapore Incident
Questions arose as to why McLaren intervened during the Italian Grand Prix when the team ordered Piastri to let Norris pass, but did not take similar action following the contact at Singapore. Stella clarified that while the team has the option to intervene if deemed necessary, the assessment at the pit wall concluded that no positional changes were warranted after the clash.
Well, obviously, it’s within the power and the rights of the team to act, should there be a case,
Stella explained.
So there’s been an assessment at the pit wall. We thought that there was no need to do so.
He reiterated the importance of drivers conveying their position plainly, stating that Oscar did so in this instance. Stella confirmed the incident would be reviewed in the coming days to identify any lessons for the future.
Then we made our assessment, and we thought that the right course of action was the one that we took, but part of the process is the review that will happen in the coming days.
Context of the Collision and Its Impact on Team Dynamics
Stella also emphasized that the contact between Norris and Piastri was not an isolated incident but rather the result of a preceding situation involving Verstappen. According to Stella, this broader racing context influenced McLaren’s decision.
In terms of having a contact between our two drivers, this contact is, in reality, a consequence of another racing situation that happened between Lando and Verstappen,
he said.
So definitely, because there was contact itself, this will lead to review and some good conversations. But, in the moment, we thought that this contact was more a result of another racing situation, let’s say.
Oscar Piastri’s Perspective on the Incident
After the race, Piastri appeared calmer and refrained from criticism, despite losing ground to Norris in the title race. He remained cautious about making judgments before reviewing the footage.
Obviously, it was a difficult race, a difficult first lap,
Piastri told Sky Sports F1.
I’ve not seen the replay, obviously, I just know from in-car, so I’ll go and have a look.
When asked if he expected the collision would set a tone for future clashes with Norris, Piastri responded,
I don’t know, adding,
I’ve not seen the incident from the TV camera, so I need to look at that first before I make any comments.
Additional Race Reactions and Context
Amid the ongoing tension between McLaren teammates, other notable responses emerged following the Singapore Grand Prix. The FIA confirmed a penalty for Lewis Hamilton due to a race breach, while pundit Martin Brundle defended Norris after Piastri’s sharp criticism of the move.
Meanwhile, McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown was seen congratulating Piastri in the paddock, though the Australian appeared to disengage from radio communications shortly after the race. The dynamic between Norris and Piastri will likely remain under close observation as the championship battle intensifies and the team looks to avoid intra-team conflict.
