No tweak to Payaya Rules after ‘unacceptable’ McLaren crash

McLaren’s Andrea Stella does not believe changes should be made to how McLaren goes racing, despite describing Lando Norris’ race-ending incident with Australia’s Oscar Piastri as “unacceptable.”

McLaren has been the class team of 2025, but fans had to wait until the 10th race for Norris and Piastri to go wheel to wheel, and it did not end well.

Despite starting seventh, Norris was gaining on Piastri for fourth in the closing laps after running an offset strategy due to a long first stint.

A tense run to the flag was building, and critically, McLaren did not deploy team orders, ensuring it was a full-on fight.

It all came to a head on Lap 66 when Norris launched a divebomb at the L’Epingle hairpin, but could not make it stick, allowing Piastri to regain fourth after a wheel-to-wheel battle down the long Casino Straight.

By the time they arrived onto the short pit straight, Norris tried to line up another move on the inside beneath the slipstream.

However, the Brit got too close and completely misjudged the situation, going for a gap that did not exist, driving straight into the back of Piastri.

Norris lost his front wing as the contact sent him into the wall and sent the #4 into a dramatic retirement.

Piastri carried on and secured fourth to grow his championship lead from 12 to 22 points.

After calling off a battle in Australia, McLaren let the pair race in Canada and Stella does not believe team orders need to be used in the future after the Montreal incident due to Norris’ actions.

“It doesn’t change things because it’s a misjudgment,” Stella told Auto Action’s Luis Vasconcelos in Montreal. 

“It’s not like the driver had an intent that was beyond the principles. 

“It’s just a misjudgment of the proximity to the car ahead. 

“If Lando had a different reaction, then there would have been certainly serious conversation to add. 

“But I think he immediately realised that he simply miscalculated, and this caused a problem for himself and for the team, and he was very close to causing a problem for Oscar.”

When asked about the incident itself, Stella described Norris’ move as “unacceptable” but was pleased to see the more experienced driver hold his hand up.

“We never want to see a McLaren car, involved in an accident, and definitely, we don’t want to see the two McLarens having contact,” he said.

“So. this situation is a situation that we know is not acceptable. 

“At the same time, we appreciate that Lando immediately owned it, raised his hand, as you said, and apologised to the team, which, for us, sort of resets the situation. 

“I’m sure it was an important learning point coming from this race. 

“He paid a price in the championship. 

“Like I say, we appreciate his behaviour straight after the accident, and we will go racing again.”

Piastri is also of the view that there does not need to be any tweaks to how McLaren chase both titles in future races.

“I think everything will stay the same,” he said.

“If it had been a crash in a corner and clearly we got it wrong and too aggressive, then that’s one thing.

“But it was a bit of an unfortunate incident really on straight effectively.

“So, for me, I don’t think it will change anything and I think that’s the way it should be because ultimately we’re both trying to fight for a world championship.”

Image: Fox Sports

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