McLaren Backs Norris After Collision with Piastri in Canadian GP
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has publicly supported Lando Norris following the collision with his teammate Oscar Piastri during the Canadian Grand Prix. The incident occurred on the pit straight, where Norris attempted to overtake Piastri after successfully swapping positions in the previous corners but misjudged the maneuver, resulting in a collision.
Norris took immediate responsibility for the incident, which cost him valuable championship points. Stella acknowledged this accountability as a crucial factor in the team’s response: “It’s an episode that cost him championship points… he made a misjudgment,” he stated. He emphasized that the support for Norris would have been different if he had not admitted fault.
Stella remarked, “It’s full support to Lando,” highlighting the team’s commitment to maintaining parity and equality between their two drivers despite the need for potential "tough" conversations moving forward. He further noted, “Lando will have to show his character to overcome these kind of episodes and learn from them.”
Looking ahead, Stella expressed optimism about the future interactions between Norris and Piastri. With 24 races in the season, including sprints, the potential for close racing remains high. He stated, “I think having experienced this situation will make us more robust as a team.”
Stella concluded that incidents like this are part of racing dynamics, emphasizing the importance of improved judgment in future close encounters. “The two McLarens racing close to one another will happen again,” he said, acknowledging that the distance between the cars will be critical to avoid further collisions.
