Lando Norris Regrets Team Orders Drama at Hungarian GP

Lando Norris expressed regret over the team orders drama at the Hungarian Grand Prix which overshadowed his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri’s first Formula 1 victory. Norris, 24, pitted ahead of race leader Piastri during the final pit stops, which put him in front. After multiple radio messages with his engineer, Norris finally let Piastri pass with two laps remaining allowing Piastri to win.

While McLaren celebrated a one-two finish, Norris admitted that he felt disappointed about the intra-team conflict. He acknowledged that both the team and he could have handled the situation better. “It’s such a stupid thing that I didn’t because we’re free to race,” he said, reflecting on his initial hesitation to let Piastri pass. Norris, who started on pole but saw Piastri overtake him on the first lap, promised to let his teammate pass immediately in future similar situations.

Heading into the Belgian Grand Prix second in the drivers’ championship, Lando Norris faced criticism for giving up a potential win. However, he emphasized the importance of the team’s success over personal glory. He regretted that the one-two finish didn’t make the main headline, feeling that he overshadowed Piastri’s maiden win. During a news conference at Spa-Francorchamps, other drivers shared their views on the McLaren situation.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz stated that drivers should always follow team orders, even if it hurts. Haas’ Kevin Magnussen admitted he would have felt tempted to hold onto the win while Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas recounted his experiences with similar situations at Mercedes. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo noted that sometimes drivers need the pit wall’s perspective to make the right choice.

As F1 heads into the final race before the mid-season break, the incident highlights the delicate balance between individual ambition and team strategy.