Norris accepts blame for Piastri collision; Steiner criticizes move

McLaren driver Lando Norris has accepted full responsibility for a collision with his team-mate Oscar Piastri during the final lap of the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race. The incident, which occurred at Turn Five, resulted in Piastri retiring and Norris finishing eighth, costing the team potential points.

Norris shifts stance on responsibility

Initially, Norris defended his attempt to pass Piastri, stating that while the crash was his fault, he believed he had the right to go for the space. "Really, it's still my fault," Norris said after qualifying. "But I deserved to go for the space and I still believe I had the right for it."

However, following the main race, Norris changed his position and issued a full apology. "I can't attempt what I did," Norris said. "I should never have attempted it in the first place, even if the move was on. I've simply got to think more of the team that I represent rather than myself. It was a mistake on my part and I let down the team."

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella described the incident as "unacceptable" and expressed disappointment. Stella emphasized that the team’s policy of fairness and equal status between drivers remains unchanged, noting that the drivers must prioritize the team's interest over individual ambitions. "This is what I expect as a team principal, this is what the 1,000 people that work at McLaren expect from our drivers," Stella said.

Steiner criticizes the move

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner criticized Norris’s decision to attempt the pass, labeling it "not a world champion move." Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner argued that the risk outweighed the reward, particularly given that both drivers were competing for the same team.

"You really shouldn't be doing this," Steiner said. "This was not a world champion move."

Steiner also commented on McLaren's internal handling of the situation, praising Stella’s management. He suggested that Norris realized his error independently rather than apologizing for political reasons. "I don't think Norris [apologised] for a political reason," Steiner said. "[Norris] came to the conclusion that [it] was actually pretty stupid what he did... There was no need for it, especially the reaction afterwards."

Race outcomes and team impact

The collision reduced McLaren’s sprint race points from a potential nine to just one. In the main Grand Prix, both drivers recovered, with Norris finishing fourth and Piastri fifth, scoring a combined 22 points for the team.

The incident has sparked debate about McLaren’s "papaya rules," which allow both drivers to race freely without team orders. While Stella maintained that the team would not deviate from this policy, he acknowledged that such incidents test the limits of their approach. The team continues to hold discussions to ensure drivers embrace the collective interest of McLaren above individual goals.

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Sources

• bbc.com: F1 Q&A: Does Lando Norris-Oscar Piastri crash show 'papaya rules' are failing? - BBC Sport
• motorsport.com: Lando Norris slammed by Guenther Steiner for "not a world champion move"

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.