Canadian Grand Prix: Norris Collides with Piastri, Regrets Team Impact
Montreal, Canada — Lando Norris acknowledged responsibility for a collision with his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri during the closing laps of the Canadian Grand Prix, resulting in both drivers failing to finish. The incident occurred on lap 67 while vying for fourth place, with Norris attempting a risky inside pass that ultimately left him crashing into the wall.
“I’m sorry,” Norris communicated over the team radio. “All my bad. All my fault. Stupid from me.” This crash has pushed Norris 22 points behind Piastri in the championship standings.
Despite sustaining damage from the collision, Piastri managed to finish fourth, aided by a late safety car, which allowed him to maintain his position. In a post-race debrief, Norris elaborated on his decision-making during the incident, admitting that he misjudged the gap as Piastri began to close off the line.
"I thought he was starting to drift a little bit to the right, so I thought I had a small opportunity,” Norris explained. “But it was way too much risk, especially on my team-mate.”
He further expressed his remorse, stating, "Our rule number one is to not make contact with your team-mate, and it’s what I did. McLaren is my family.” Norris plans to apologize to the entire McLaren team, emphasizing the importance of his accountability.
Norris dismissed any notion that frustration over McLaren’s lack of a podium finish this season influenced his actions. “Our race pace was very strong,” he said. “But qualifying has clearly been our weakness.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown acknowledged the inevitability of contact as competition between their drivers intensifies.
The incident marks a pivotal moment in the championship race, illustrating the pressure faced by teams and drivers as they navigate their title chase. McLaren will conduct an immediate review to address the incident and refocus for the upcoming races.
