Lando Norris Reflects on Challenging Conversations with McLaren After Canadian Grand Prix Collision
Lando Norris recently opened up about the "challenging" discussions he had with McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, and CEO, Zak Brown, following his collision with teammate Oscar Piastri during the Canadian Grand Prix. The British driver acknowledged that these conversations were "not the most joyful" but deemed them essential after the incident that resulted in his retirement from the race, while Piastri went on to finish in an impressive fourth place.
In an interview ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Norris explained, "It was a tough couple of days, but I’ve learned to handle these moments better. Talking with Andrea and Zak has been crucial." He highlighted that the aftermath was particularly challenging because of his long-standing relationship with McLaren.
The collision took place on lap 66 in Montreal when Norris attempted to overtake Piastri on the pit straight. Unfortunately, the maneuver backfired as Norris clipped the rear of Piastri’s car while trying to navigate the inside line into turn one. The contact sent Norris crashing into the pit wall, resulting in significant damage that forced him to retire from the race. Meanwhile, Piastri continued unscathed to secure fourth place, consequently widening his lead over Norris in the championship standings from 10 to 22 points.
This incident marked the first on-track clash between the McLaren teammates since Piastri joined the team. Norris took full responsibility for the collision, calling it the "most painful" moment of his career due to the involvement of a teammate. "The fact that it happened with my teammate makes it even tougher for me," he stated. "This is the last thing I ever wanted to happen."
Norris sought out Piastri immediately after the race to express his apologies, feeling regretful for the team and everyone affected by the incident. He admitted that it took him several days to fully process the emotional weight of what had occurred.
Despite the difficult conversations that followed, Norris believes McLaren has come out stronger. "In an unfortunate yet positive way, we’ve emerged from this experience better than before, which is something you might not expect," he noted.
Following the incident, the team’s racing protocols, known as the "Papaya rules," remain unchanged. Norris emphasized the importance of maintaining trust with Piastri to prevent similar issues in the future. "We want to race each other fairly and hard, pushing the limits without repeating what happened last time," he affirmed.
As the season progresses, Lando Norris is determined to focus on his performance and strengthen his partnership with Oscar Piastri, aiming for a successful outcome in the upcoming races.
