Norris ready to race after “tough” Canada clash

Whilst Oscar Piastri thought the post-Canada debrief was simply “fine”, it was “not the most joyful” of conversations for Lando Norris.

One of the biggest talking points ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix is if McLaren’s “Papaya Rules” are impacted after the teammates clashed for the first time at Canada.

Fortunately, for McLaren, there was not too much debate on the incident itself, with Norris immediately putting his hand up after driving into the back of Piastri.

This ballooned Piastri’s advantage at the top of the drivers’ championship to 22 points.

Reflecting on the post-Canada conversations, Norris admitted they were not overly pleasant for him, but he feels the team is in a better place for future battles as it maintains its racing preference,  to the joy of fans worldwide.

“There’s been good understanding of everything from my side and explaining that to the team,” Norris said. 

“I think I made it clear from the immediate moment that I misjudged it and I took the fault for it.

“Of course, they were not the most joyful conversations, but conversations that needed to be had.

“We all know what rule number one was, and that continues and will always be.

“The trust in the honesty that Oscar and I have for one another is important that we keep it up, because we don’t want to have the downfall that we know many other teams have had in the past. 

“We want to race each other fair and hard and on the limit, and not have a repeat of what happened last time out.

“Many things have come out stronger than I would say they were prior to the weekend, which you might not expect, but I think it’s a good outcome.”

Norris also revealed there were some “tough” periods of reflection following Montreal.

“It was a tough couple of days, but also I think something I got better at is dealing with those moments and speaking to my team around me like Andrea (Stella) and Zak (Brown),” he said.

“Trying to move on as quickly as possible was very important. 

“I’ve come into this weekend with that in the past, and (ready to) go again.”

Despite having the early upper hand with a 24-point lead post Australia, Norris has only won one race since at Monaco.

With this run also littered with noticeably more mistakes than Piastri, his teammate has overturned that deficit into a 22-point lead.

The Australian has not been perfect either with mistakes in Q3 seeing possible shots at victory slip in Japan and Monaco.

However, Norris has not been as consistent in the MCL39 and has paid a price.

As he heads to a track where he scored a maiden podium in 2020, but also missed out on victory after a clash with Max Verstappen last year, the Brit is well aware more repeated mistakes will prove costly.

“I’ve been making more mistakes and I’ve been behind, so I think that’s been clear,” he said.

“I think it’s very close between us. 

“Oscar has certainly been a bit more comfortable than I have this season, and that’s the way it is. 

“I have had to try and improve and step up more than what I’ve had to in the past, simply because of some of the struggles and difficulties that I’ve had with the car this year.

“But it’s also my job to drive whatever car I get given.

“It has been tough, and Oscar has been doing a good job. “It’s been exciting to see how close it is, and good for the team as well, because I think that unlocks another step that not many other teams have.

“But at the minute, that’s how I would probably say it.”

2025 Austrian Grand Prix Schedule:

Friday, June 27:

FP1: 21:30 – 22:30

Saturday, June 28:

FP2: 01:00 – 02:00

FP3: 20:30 – 21:30

Sunday, June 29:

Qualifying: 00:00 – 01:00

Race: 23:00

Buy the new issue of Auto Action Premium HERE

Read the new issue of Auto Action Digital HERE

Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here or you can purchase a copy of the latest issue from one of our outlets here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine