Lando Norris has committed to moving past his recent collision with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri during the F1 Canadian Grand Prix. The incident took place late in the 70-lap race in Montreal, where Norris attempted to overtake Piastri for fourth place but instead made contact, ending his race prematurely.
The collision happened on the main straight, with Piastri maintaining fourth position after pitting during the following Safety Car period. This result increased Piastri’s lead over Norris to 22 points after the first ten races of the season. Norris took full responsibility for the contact, acknowledging the mistake ahead of McLaren’s efforts to secure both Formula 1 world championships this year.
Lando Norris Accepts Responsibility and Looks Forward
In an interview with Sky Sports News before the F1 Movie premiere in New York, Norris openly addressed the incident. He expressed regret and extended an apology, noting that such events are part of racing.
“What happened happened and I regretted it at the time and apologised for it. Sadly, it’s also racing. I take it on the chin and I’ve got to move on. I’ve got to look at the next race and see how I can do a better job and not make those silly mistakes at times.”
He also highlighted that despite this setback, there are positive aspects to build upon, believing that finding a strong rhythm will improve his performance.
There’s a lot of positives and I’ll make sure to look at them and build on what I’ve got because once I get into a good rhythm I’m sure I will be very happy.
—Lando Norris, F1 Driver
Jenson Button Emphasizes the Mental Challenge Following Team Collision
Former F1 World Champion Jenson Button reflected on Norris’s incident, comparing it to an almost identical collision he had with Lewis Hamilton at the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix. Button stressed that how Norris responds mentally to this moment will be critical for his championship pursuit.
I like that we have the inter-team fight because this is the fight for the World Championship. It’s nice they are going hard,
Button commented.
He explained that this moment represents a crucial opportunity, given upcoming regulation changes that might limit future chances. Both Norris and Piastri are competing fiercely for the championship, but incidents like this are part of racing history.
“Lewis and myself crashed into each other 14 years ago on the same straight! It happens. This is the moment whether we see Lando is in a good mental place and whether he will come out of the other side strong.”
I think he has in terms of being confident in his ability and putting it all out there, so I’m excited to see him move on.
—Jenson Button, Former F1 World Champion
Outlook for McLaren’s Championship Hopes
McLaren’s focus will be on quickly overcoming the intra-team clash to maintain momentum in their pursuit of both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles. With the championship battle heating up, each race presents vital opportunities for Norris and Piastri to prove their resilience and skills.
The way Norris moves forward from this incident will provide insights into his mental toughness, while Piastri’s extended points lead puts additional pressure on both drivers. Upcoming races will be key to observing how this rivalry evolves as McLaren aims to maximize their championship chances.