Windsor slams McLaren for 'strange' decision which may have cost victory in Japan

08:30, 07 Apr

byToby Nixon

Peter Windsor has criticised McLaren in the wake of their decision to hold position with their cars in the Japanese Grand Prix. The former F1 team manager believes that Piastri should've been allowed to pass Norris in order to have a go at overtaking Verstappen, stating that the papaya team are now 'concerned' about team orders.

McLaren finished second and third in the Japanese Grand Prix behind race winner Max Verstappen. Still, it was a good haul of points for the Woking-based squad who leads the constructors championship. It's a race that ultimately, they will be disappointed with. They were the fastest car on the day in Suzuka, but couldn't capitalise strategically.

Speaking on his YouTube analysis, former F1 team boss and journalist Peter Windsor says that McLaren should've allowed a pent-up Oscar Piastri to overtake Verstappen. The Australian spent the majority of the race frustrated in close quarters behind his teammate.

Windsor comments on 'strange' call

"I think it's kind of strange McLaren didn't let him have a go at Max. We've seen that with other teams in the past, maybe even McLaren, I can't really remember, but certainly with other teams, okay, let's see what we can do, and if it doesn't work, we'll go back and hold positions. I think that would have been worth it because for sure the McLaren was a better car, and for sure the Red Bull was going to be harder on its tyres. But I think it would have been worth letting Oscar have a go. If only to wear Max down and then let Lando take the position again," he explained.

The Brit also highlighted the now-famous 'papaya rules'. Since the Hungarian Grand Prix where Lando Norris let Oscar Piastri through for the race win, it's been a commonly discussed topic due to the closeness between the two drivers.

McLaren heading down 'uncontrollable' path

"Maybe McLaren are so concerned now about team orders and how to control their drivers. They just don't even want to go there. And I think this goes right back to the Hungarian Grand Prix, as I said at the time. The minute you go down that path it becomes uncontrollable. They've obviously got themselves in a mode now for 2025 which is a bubble, and we make sure we don't tread on the toes of either of the drivers, and I think they missed an opportunity here. They definitely had a better car around Suzuka."

Norris heads Piastri at the Japanese Grand Prix

Although it's hard to overtake around the Suzuka Circuit, Widnsor is certain that an opportunity would've presented itself when putting enough pressure on Verstappen. "Yes, it is almost impossible to overtake around Suzuka, but if you push a guy hard enough and his tyres do start to go off, a guy like Oscar Piastri can pass a guy like Max Verstappen on the outside of Turn 1.

"It is a passing place and Piastri has the flair to do that and yet we never saw that. And all credit therefore to Red Bull and Max Verstappen for enforcing that situation at McLaren. McLaren was sort of restricted in everything they tried to do today and it was all because of the perfection of Max and Red Bull and how well they did the job," Windsor concluded.