McLaren has confirmed that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will continue to race without restrictions following their collision at the Canadian Grand Prix, though the team insists the collision highlights the need for increased caution between the teammates. During the race in Montreal, Norris made contact with the rear of Piastri’s car while they fought for fourth place in the closing stages.
The British driver took responsibility immediately, apologizing to Piastri and the team for the incident. This open acceptance helped ease tensions within McLaren as they prepared for the next events in the Formula 1 calendar. The ongoing focus remains on allowing both drivers to compete fairly and prove their merit through their performance.
Team Principal Emphasizes Commitment to Racing with Clear Boundaries
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, addressed the matter after the race, highlighting that while there will be difficult discussions internally, the incident will not alter the team’s approach towards its drivers. He reaffirmed the importance of maintaining the “papaya rules” – agreed guidelines that enable fair competition between Norris and Piastri without constant interference from the pitwall.
Stella explained that controlling the drivers too tightly when their cars are close on track risks turning racing into a less authentic experience. He stressed the value McLaren places on freedom and rivalry, encouraging the drivers to settle disputes through skill and racecraft rather than team commands.
“This is not necessarily a simple and straight exercise but we want to try and do it as best as we can.”
—Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
Stella views the collision as a reminder for the drivers to exercise more caution rather than a reason to impose restrictions. He believes the incident will reinforce the team‘s principles and encourage better judgement moving forward.
“I don’t foresee that [Canada’s] episode will change our approach from this point of view. If anything, it will reinforce and it will strengthen that the principles we have require more caution by our drivers.”
—Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
Understanding the Challenges of Racing Close Teammates
Stella acknowledged the complexity involved when teammates race very closely, especially in situations involving aerodynamic effects such as DRS, where cars can be pulled toward each other unexpectedly. The risk of accidental contact increases, making careful judgement essential during wheel-to-wheel battles.
“Because if we say that there should be no contact between the two McLarens, we need to have the margins to make sure that we have no contact, even if in a DRS situation the car may get almost a little bit sucked onto the other car and cause this kind of misjudgement as to the distance.”
—Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
The ongoing challenge for McLaren is balancing competitive freedom with avoiding unnecessary collisions, preserving both the drivers’ safety and the team’s championship ambitions.
Clash Was Anticipated Amid Intense Championship Battle
McLaren’s strong presence at the front of the grid with Norris and Piastri often running close in the top positions made the collision somewhat expected, according to the team’s leadership. They had predicted such an event might occur during their intense rivalry for points in the 2025 season.
Despite the fallout from the clash, the team remains confident in its robust culture and ability to learn from these moments, growing stronger as a collective. Stella emphasized that the resilience and professionalism of the drivers would help them move beyond the incident.
“In every situation in the heat of the moment that looks like the worst disaster ever but in reality the strength of being racers, the strength that comes from having a strong culture is the fact that you will process the episodes, you will review, you will take all the positive learning and you will dismiss anything that doesn’t have to come with us into the way we go racing in the future.”
—Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
The way Norris immediately accepted fault was cited as an example of this strong ethos within the team. The management plans to hold ongoing discussions not only with the drivers but throughout the team to ensure alignment on handling intra-team competition.
“We lean on our culture which is very strong and we use these episodes once they are a little chilled and our mind is colder than it is in the heat of the moment, to become a stronger team with two stronger drivers.”
—Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
Preparation for Future Racing Situations and Improved Judgement
Stella expects close racing between Norris and Piastri to continue as the season progresses, and he believes the experience gained from the Canadian GP will help enhance decision-making. Both drivers and the team will work towards maintaining tight but respectful competition on track.
“Having experienced this kind of situation I think it will make us just more robust as a team and in terms of each of our two drivers against these situations, because the two McLarens racing close to one another will happen again, but there will have to be better judgement in terms of the distance.”
—Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
With Norris unable to finish in Canada, he now trails Piastri by 22 points in the Drivers’ Championship ahead of the Austrian and British rounds. Nevertheless, McLaren retains a sizable lead over Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship, reflecting the strong overall performance of their drivers this season.
Upcoming Events as McLaren Looks Beyond Canada
Following the Canadian Grand Prix, attention now shifts to the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, which marks a return to European circuits. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, and fans can stream coverage via NOW without requiring a contract.
The schedule for the Austrian GP weekend includes multiple practice and qualifying sessions across Formula 1, Formula 2, and Formula 3, culminating with the main race on Sunday afternoon. McLaren and their drivers will aim to capitalize on their form and continue battling at the highest level as the season advances.