Lando Norris Reveals Shocking Reason Behind Crash with Oscar Piastri

Lando Norris gave his perspective on the late-race clash with Oscar Piastri during the Canadian Grand Prix. The incident happened on lap 67, as the two McLaren drivers were fighting for fourth place.

Norris made contact with the back of Piastri’s MCL39 on the start/finish straight. The result was a broken front wing for Norris, who then hit the wall and retired from the race.

Although Norris had to retire, Piastri continued and finished fourth, extending his championship lead over his teammate from 10 to 22 points after ten rounds.

Norris was quick to accept responsibility for the mishap. On the team radio, he called it his “fault” and admitted the move was “stupid”.

Speaking to the media afterwards, Norris explained that he thought Piastri was moving to the right, which left a small gap. He tried to pass on the outside into Turn 1 but realized in hindsight he should have never gone for it.

The British driver noted that it was a risky attempt, especially as it involved his own teammate. He expressed relief that Piastri’s race was not ruined and said he paid the price for his mistake.

The collision reminded many fans of a similar clash between Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button at the same circuit back in 2011. In both cases, teammates came together in a tight battle during the closing laps.

While McLaren allowed Norris and Piastri to race each other freely, Norris admitted that in this instance, the risk was too high. Team principal Andrea Stella confirmed the team will continue to let its drivers compete but wants more caution in similar situations.

Telemetry data analyzed after the race showed critical errors in Norris’s judgment approaching the pass. Piastri maintained the regular racing line, but Norris failed to realize in time that the move was not going to work.

The outcome was a costly and avoidable crash, ending Norris’s hopes of a strong finish. Piastri benefited from a pit stop under the safety car that followed and pushed his points tally even further ahead of Norris.

Norris now sits 22 points behind Piastri in the championship, with the Australian on 198 points and Norris on 176. Both drivers continue to race for McLaren, a team seeking to close the gap to leaders Mercedes in the current standings.

While Norris has shown flashes of speed this season, errors like the one in Montreal highlight areas he needs to improve to become a regular championship contender.

Despite the disappointment, Norris’s immediate apology and detailed explanation show his understanding of the sport’s fine margins. McLaren will hope both drivers can learn from the incident as they prepare for the next race at the Red Bull Ring on June 29.

The team remains second in the constructors’ standings with 374 points. The Canadian Grand Prix incident has become a hot topic within F1, sparking debate among fans and former drivers, especially considering recent discussions about the flexi wing debate influencing race dynamics this season.