Piastri: ‘No big decisions’ at McLaren after Norris clash in Canada

Oscar Piastri has quelled any speculation of internal discord at McLaren following his late-race collision with teammate Lando Norris at the Canadian Grand Prix, emphasizing that the incident has not disrupted the team’s unity or approach as they head into this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.

The clash occurred on Lap 67 in Montreal, when Norris made an ambitious move down the start-finish straight, resulting in contact that ended his race and cost him valuable championship points.

Piastri’s car emerged relatively unscathed, allowing him to continue, but the incident sparked questions about McLaren’s “Papaya rules” and how the team would manage its two competitive drivers going forward.

All Good and Looking Forward to Racing Again

Speaking to media ahead of this weekend’s event at the Red Bull Ring, Piastri revealed that the pair quickly addressed the situation, with their team, in a straightforward and respectful manner.

“It was fine. Half of it was on the way to the stewards room, so that was fun,” Piastri said.

“We spoke about it honestly before we even got back to the team. Lando put his hands up and apologised, so all good and looking forward to going racing again.”

McLaren team boss Andrea Stella had already played down the need for any disciplinary measures, and Piastri echoed that calm, measured approach.

“I think also just the incident in Canada didn’t warrant any big discussions or big decisions,” he explained.

“I think it was a misjudgement from Lando that he admitted to and apologised for immediately. I don’t think it needed anything else.”

Still Free to Race

While the incident in Montreal generated a fair amount of speculation and commentary in the media, Piastri said the team itself remains confident in how it manages its two young front-running talents.

“I think obviously the first rule, regardless of whether it’s written down or not, is that the two cars from the same team don’t crash,” the championship leader added.

“But I think in Canada, I think what we’ve done well this year before Canada is acknowledging that it’s a possibility. And I think we’ve dealt with it very well in Canada and since Canada. I think what we’re doing and the way we’re going about things is the correct approach.”

Piastri rejected any suggestion that the team has changed its internal policies following the incident.

“Nope, same as always,” he said. “Obviously, what happened in Canada wasn’t ideal, but we’re still free to race, still fighting for a championship each, so nope, keep going racing and make sure that obviously we don’t come into contact again.”

“We Don’t Just Want One Shot”

Looking beyond the immediate aftermath, Piastri emphasized the long-term outlook shared between him, Norris, and the McLaren camp. The Australian highlighted the importance of keeping the team united as they challenge for both wins and titles – not just in 2025, but for years to come.

“We knew going into this year it was probably going to be a close fight between Lando and I with the championship at stake,” he said. “So it’s no surprise to anyone that we’re kind of in this scenario now.”

“And I’ve said it multiple times before but Lando and I don’t just want one opportunity this year to win a championship. We want this to go on for as long as we’re in Formula 1.

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“I think the headline a few weeks ago was it’s not wise to fight for a championship or win a championship and bring the house down with it,” he added.

“So I think that’s still very much at the forefront of our minds. And we want this success for years to come. And having the team united is a very simple way of doing that.”

With McLaren emerging as a serious title contender in 2025, their internal harmony could prove just as critical as their pace on track. And judging by Piastri’s tone, the papaya-colored garage is keeping its cool—no matter the heat of competition.

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