Lando Norris has admitted he could have handled the Hungarian Grand Prix team order situation better. Reflecting on the events, Norris expressed regret over his decision-making during the race.
Norris believes his actions overshadowed teammate Oscar Piastri’s maiden Formula 1 win, sparking unnecessary controversy and drama within the team.
Norris Reflects on the Incident
Lando Norris acknowledged his role in the Hungarian Grand Prix controversy, admitting he was not ‘too proud’ of his handling of the situation. He delayed following the team order to let Oscar Piastri pass, which ultimately overshadowed Piastri’s first Formula 1 victory.
The Aftermath of Deferring the Team Order
Speaking before the Belgian Grand Prix, Norris said the attention should have been on their 1-2 finish, but instead, it was marred by his delayed response. He felt worse about obscuring the team’s achievement than the decision itself.
Learning from the Experience
Norris admitted his hesitation stemmed from being in a good rhythm during the race, leading him to question the team multiple times.
The Impact on Team Dynamics
Norris noted that despite his emotional outburst on the radio, he was always clear on the necessity of letting Piastri pass. He stated, ‘It’s such a stupid thing that I didn’t, because we’re free to race.’
Piastri’s Perspective
Piastri shared his understanding, noting that the team’s primary goal is to secure the best result. He focused on moving past the incident and looking forward to future races.
Handling Future Team Orders
Norris admitted, ‘I was a bit silly, and didn’t think of letting him go earlier.’ He emphasized the simplicity of the solution, which was not clear to him in the heat of the moment.
Moving Forward
Both Norris and McLaren aim to benefit from this learning experience, ensuring better communication and decision-making during future races.
Team McLaren’s Response
McLaren’s focus remains on maintaining strong teamwork and communication to avoid similar controversies.
The Hungarian GP incident between Norris and Piastri highlighted the complexities of team orders in Formula 1. Reflecting on this, both the driver and team have recognized the need for better communication.
As the season progresses, McLaren aims to use this experience to improve teamwork and decision-making, ensuring that such issues do not overshadow future victories.
