McLaren Maintain Stance on Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris Crash Blame
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has reaffirmed his position regarding the controversial first-lap collision between his drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, during the Sprint race at the United States Grand Prix. Despite growing debate within the Formula 1 community about who was truly at fault, Stella remains firm in his assessment and has announced that McLaren will conduct a thorough review of the incident.
The collision occurred at Turn 1, moments after the lights went out, and resulted in the immediate retirement of both McLaren cars. Piastri, who was attempting a switchback move on Norris through the tight left-hander, became entangled in a chain reaction that began when he turned across the path of Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber. Hulkenberg, in turn, was squeezed by Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin, leaving little room for manoeuvre.
The impact from Hulkenberg’s car forced Piastri’s McLaren into the rear of Norris, spinning the Briton out of control and leaving both orange machines severely damaged. The crash marked a disastrous end to McLaren’s Sprint ambitions and further complicated the ongoing title fight, as both drivers are key contenders in this season’s championship battle.
Speaking to reporters, Stella avoided directly blaming either of his drivers but implied that the situation was exacerbated by the actions of “drivers with a lot of experience.” While he did not name names, many in the paddock interpreted this as a reference to Hulkenberg and Alonso, two veterans of the sport who were caught up in the chaos.
“There will be a full review of the incident,” Stella explained. “We’ll look at everything in detail — the telemetry, the positioning, the context — to make sure we understand exactly what happened. But I can confirm that my view hasn’t changed. I still believe that a little more prudence from some experienced drivers in that scenario could have prevented the collision.”
Not everyone in the paddock agrees with Stella’s perspective. Several analysts and former drivers have argued that Piastri may have been too ambitious in his approach to Turn 1, braking too late and leaving Hulkenberg with nowhere to go. According to this viewpoint, Piastri’s aggressive attempt to reclaim the racing line caused the contact that triggered the multi-car incident.
After qualifying for the main Grand Prix later that day, Norris addressed the issue briefly, emphasizing that the team’s focus had already shifted forward. “Obviously, we’ve had a couple of chats since the Sprint,” Norris told RacingNews365 and other outlets. “But honestly, it was more about resetting. In racing, you can’t dwell too much on what’s already happened, especially when you have to focus on qualifying and the race ahead. We’ll go through the incident properly at the right time, as a team, and come to the right conclusions.”
Stella echoed Norris’s comments about the team’s internal handling of the situation. He explained that McLaren’s approach would follow their established “racing framework,” which emphasizes open communication, data-based analysis, and joint responsibility. “We’ll do it collaboratively — the team, the drivers — and make the right assessment,” he said. “Both Lando and Oscar understand and agree with that process. It’s how we move forward constructively.”
Despite the disappointment, Stella stressed that maintaining team unity and learning from such moments is crucial for McLaren’s long-term progress. “Incidents like this are always frustrating, but they’re also opportunities to improve,” he added. “Our focus now is to ensure both drivers continue to work together for the benefit of the team.”
Concluding his remarks, Stella reiterated his earlier opinion, stating, “What I said immediately after the Sprint still stands. I think more caution from drivers with a lot of experience, especially when they are already in strong positions, would have been helpful. And yes, that remains my view today.”
With tensions high and the championship stakes rising, McLaren’s internal review will be closely watched. Whether the team ultimately places more responsibility on Piastri, Norris, or the experienced drivers caught in the mix, the outcome could shape not only their immediate racing strategy but also the dynamic between their two young stars moving forward.
