McLaren Mulls Team Orders to Boost Norris’ Title Bid

McLaren has narrowed the gap to Red Bull, now trailing by just eight points in the constructors' championship.

McLaren is considering team orders to support Lando Norris in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship after Oscar Piastri finished ahead of him in the Italian Grand Prix. Despite McLaren’s strong showing with Norris and Piastri locking out the front row, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc outpaced them both. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, currently leading the championship, struggled with his car and finished in sixth place reducing his lead to 62 points with eight races remaining.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella noted that adjustments might be made to intra-team rules to help Norris pursue both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. Stella emphasized that while McLaren will support the driver in the best position, it’s crucial for Piastri to see his support for Norris as an investment in the team’s overall success. Norris, while open to the idea expressed that the decision is not up to him and that he believes winning races is the best path forward.

Verstappen facing an unexpected decline in Red Bull’s performance, urged his team to address their issues attributing the problems to recent updates. Red Bull’s decline coincided with the departure of chief technical officer Adrian Newey, though Horner and Verstappen downplay the impact of Newey’s exit. McLaren also faces questions about their race strategy. Key moments included Piastri’s early pass of Norris and the decision to pit Piastri twice.

Stella mentioned a potential one-stop strategy might have been more effective. Despite the challenges, Stella acknowledged Ferrari’s competitiveness, noting that Leclerc matched McLaren’s pace adding complexity to their championship pursuit.