The Italian Grand Prix delivered high-stakes action for McLaren as team bosses Zak Brown and Andrea Stella confirmed they will review an aggressive first-lap move by Oscar Piastri, who overtook his team-mate Lando Norris at the second chicane. The pass, which caught Norris by surprise, shifted momentum and allowed Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to capitalize and eventually win the race.
After a stellar qualifying session where McLaren locked out the front row, Norris led the pack into the first corner, only for Piastri to make a daring move around the outside shortly after. The audacious pass forced Norris off-line, dropping him to third, while Leclerc took advantage of the disruption and moved into second. Ferrari’s gamble on a one-stop strategy paid off, with Leclerc ultimately securing victory, leaving the McLarens to finish second and third after opting for a two-stop approach.
Zak Brown acknowledged the tension in the moment, calling Piastri’s pass “aggressive” but clean. “We’ll discuss it. It’s about respecting your team-mate, and while they didn’t touch, it was nerve-racking on the pit wall,” Brown said.
Despite the clean racing, the incident highlights McLaren’s unique challenge of managing two No. 1 drivers. Brown reiterated McLaren’s philosophy of letting both drivers race on equal footing, a tradition that has sometimes been difficult to manage.
The missed opportunity to secure a 1-2 finish for McLaren also had broader implications in the Constructors’ Championship, as the team came close to overtaking Red Bull. Instead, they closed the gap but remained behind by eight points.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, also echoed the need to calmly assess the situation. “We’ll review the overtaking and the race strategy with the drivers to see if there’s any learning for the future,” he stated. McLaren appeared set for a victory until Ferrari’s strategic mastery with Leclerc and Carlos Sainz on a one-stop strategy outplayed McLaren’s two-stopper.
For Norris, the aggressive racing was another reminder of McLaren’s commitment to equal opportunities for both drivers. However, it left pundits, including 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, questioning whether McLaren’s approach is hindering Norris’ title chances. “The philosophy of having two No. 1 drivers comes from the very top with Zak Brown, and while it’s exciting for racing, it’s hurting Lando’s shot at the Drivers’ Championship,” Rosberg commented.
As Formula 1 heads to Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on September 13-15, McLaren will undoubtedly reflect on their approach to managing their talented young drivers as they chase both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles.
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