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McLaren Investigates Oscar Piastri’s Controversial Overtake at Italian Grand Prix

McLaren has launched an internal investigation following a controversial incident involving their drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, during the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday. The team is scrutinizing whether Piastri’s aggressive overtaking maneuver on the first lap violated their internal “Papaya Rules” meant to ensure hard but fair racing between teammates.

Piastri and Norris both started the race from the front row after stellar performances in qualifying, setting up high hopes for a McLaren victory. However, the race took a dramatic turn on the opening lap. Norris, who had secured pole position, initially led the race through the first few turns. But Piastri, eager to capitalize on his strong start, made a bold move to overtake Norris. The maneuver was deemed aggressive by some, and it proved costly for Norris, who lost momentum as a result. This allowed Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to seize the opportunity and move into second place, altering the course of the race.

Leclerc’s strategic decision to opt for a one-stop strategy paid off handsomely. As the race progressed, he managed to take the lead from Piastri with just 15 laps remaining. Despite Piastri’s early dominance, he was unable to reclaim the lead and ultimately finished second, with Norris crossing the line in third. This result kept McLaren in the hunt for the Constructors’ Championship, narrowing the gap to leaders Red Bull to just eight points. On the Drivers’ side, Norris reduced his deficit to 62 points behind Max Verstappen, the current leader.

Following the race, McLaren’s Chief Executive Zak Brown addressed the incident, stating that the team has established “Papaya Rules” to govern how their drivers compete against each other. These rules are designed to allow for intense competition while minimizing the risk of contact between teammates. Brown emphasized that the team’s priority is to pursue both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships, and that the rules are meant to support this goal.

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella echoed Brown’s sentiments, confirming that the team would review the incident thoroughly. “We will have to review together with the drivers, look at the videos, understand their point of view. And then we will assess together whether they were fully compliant or not,” Stella explained. He added that if the review reveals any need for adjustments, the Papaya Rules will be modified accordingly to better support the team’s championship ambitions.

Stella also touched on McLaren’s race strategy in Italy, explaining the decision to abandon a one-stop strategy, which ultimately may have cost them the victory. According to Stella, McLaren’s car typically performs well with rear tires but can be prone to front tire graining, leading to concerns during the race. These concerns were heightened when Norris experienced a lock-up on his front left tire a few laps before the team made the decision to switch to a two-stop strategy.

“In hindsight, I think there wasn’t enough degradation for Leclerc to actually go and beat him on a two-stop, because we missed it by a couple of laps, but a couple of laps is a lot,” Stella remarked. He acknowledged that the decision to switch strategies might have been a miscalculation, stating that “it remains a question mark whether we could have won the race or not.” Stella conceded that there may have been more performance left in the tires than the team initially anticipated, which could have altered the race outcome.

Despite the setback, McLaren remains optimistic about their chances in both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships. Stella highlighted that with the current performance of their car and the struggles faced by Red Bull, both titles are within reach. “We have to be now in condition to acknowledge that not only the Constructors’ Championship is possible. Even from a driver’s point of view, with the performance we have at the moment in the car, and some of the struggles that we see with Red Bull, it is definitely possible,” Stella concluded.

As McLaren continues its investigation into Piastri’s maneuver, the team is focused on refining its strategies and rules to ensure that both their drivers can compete for top honors without compromising each other’s chances.