The tension inside the McLaren garage has taken a new turn after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri nearly collided in the closing laps of the Italian Grand Prix. The Woking-based team now plans a full review to determine whether that intra-team battle cost them a chance to chase down Max Verstappen ahead.
The incident occurred on lap 51 when Norris attempted to overtake his teammate around the outside of Curva Grande. Piastri moved left to defend, forcing Norris off track and onto the grass. That moment sparked a complaint from the reigning world champion over team radio.
Andrea Stella, McLaren's team principal, admitted the team will review the incident. "We will review this episode, and we will review it in the context of racing like this," he said. Stella also defended the decision not to intervene at the time, citing that both cars had identical tyres, age, and machinery.
Interestingly, Stella believes the incident was more benign than it looked in the heat of the moment. "When Lando put the wheels on the grass, he made a comment like 'he pushed me off' or something. But when we reviewed it, it's much more benign," he explained. However, he left room for potential strategic improvements, especially regarding the chance to challenge Verstappen for a podium.
McLaren's philosophy of letting their drivers race came under the spotlight again. Stella stressed that allowing them to race was the priority, even if it meant losing valuable time. "In our philosophy, it's more important to let them race than to control them from the pit wall," he added.
With an evaluation looming, McLaren appears keen to ensure internal rivalry doesn't compromise team interests in the future. Will this change their approach? Only time will tell after a thorough analysis.
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