(Photo by Mark Sutton/Getty Images)

Lando Norris Adamant McLaren Are 'Not Idiots' and Admits Oscar Piastri Shouldn’t Have Let Him Pass At Monza

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Luke-John Buckle | Last updated Sep 7, 2025 1:21 PM ET

The Italian Grand Prix was a race that saw McLaren trail in Max Verstappen's wake as the four-time world champion converted pole position to win by 19 seconds.

Verstappen couldn't resist a small laugh at McLaren during the Grand Prix as the British team told Oscar Piastri to let Lando Norris through as the Briton suffered a slow pit stop.

Norris was quick to defend the McLaren team in the post-race press conference and insisted it wasn't correct that he was handed second place back in the closing stages.

The 25-year-old said: "Every situation is different. So I think it's pretty stupid just to assume that thing and just say, that's the precedent you set. We're not idiots, and we have plans for different things. If there were four cars in between me and Oscar, of course, he's not going to let me back past.

"And I don't think that's correct that he let me back past. But in a situation when everyone is racing, in a situation where we can just be fair, then you'd expect to be fair as a team. They don't want to be the reason to upset one driver or another through no fault of their own."

Norris added that he doesn't want to be handed anything when out on track and battling his teammate and title rival Piastri.

"Today was not my fault. If I came flat out into my box and I hit one of my mechanics out of the way, I also don't expect to get the position back. But today was out of my control. In the end, I don't want this. I don't want to win this way, through getting given positions or anything like that. And the same thing with Oscar. We don't want to lose or win like that."

McLaren has had needless issues around team orders before, such as last year in Hungary when Norris conceded the lead, allowing Piastri to take his first Grand Prix win.

Piastri now leads the championship standings by 31 points with eight rounds to go. It is still all to play for as both McLaren drivers aim for their first Formula 1 world title.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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