F1 News

Lando Norris wanted to avoid crash with Oscar Piastri at Monza

Norris wanted to avoid crash with Piastri: 'He gave me just enough space'

2 September at 09:53
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  • Nicole Mulder

Lando Norris allowed himself to be brutally sidelined by McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri on the first lap of the Italian Grand Prix, before also opening the door for Charles Leclerc. In hindsight, Norris might have handled that moment differently, although he believes his teammate's action was on the edge.

Norris: 'If I had braked later, it could have been a crash'

"I could have braked a bit later, but sometimes it's easier said than done," Norris told media present at Monza, including GPblog. "Oscar obviously braked on the limit and gave me space. It was just about enough. I did my best to avoid anything else happening at the time."

He continued: "If I had braked two metres later, you don't know what would have happened. Two metres later and it could easily have been a crash. But at the same time, if I brake two metres later, you don't know and you can't predict. But two metres later it could easily have been a crash. So it's a tough one. Easiest thing is just to brake way later and force him off and I kind of treat it like everyone else. I obviously took it easy. I saw we had a massive gap behind us, so maybe I was just a bit too much on the cautious side and paid the price."

McLaren received criticism for their handling of the Formula 1 race at Monza. International media, for instance, believe team orders were required, but there has also been criticism from the British press of Norris' approach, who lost the lead again on the first lap after starting from pole position.

This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton