McLaren team principal Andrea Stella emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the collision between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the Singapore Grand Prix. The primary goal, he stated, is to maintain the drivers` confidence in the team.
The incident occurred on the first lap when Norris, Piastri`s closest championship rival, made contact with his teammate`s car during an overtaking maneuver. This clash ultimately reduced the points gap between them to 22 with six rounds remaining in the championship.
Despite Piastri`s evident dissatisfaction and his radio request for team intervention, McLaren decided against penalizing Norris. The team concluded that the contact resulted from Norris`s reaction to an earlier, minor touch with Max Verstappen`s Red Bull.
Piastri openly expressed his disagreement with McLaren`s decision over the radio, calling it “unfair.” While he appeared calmer in post-race interviews, many, including Sky Sports F1 pundit Jamie Chadwick, suggested that this incident signaled the beginning of a more intense battle for the title between the two young drivers. Stella reiterated that the review must be “very detailed, very analytical.”
