Jenson Button Predicts Possible Lando Norris Penalty Amid McLaren’s Secretive Sanction Decision
Former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button has suggested what form Lando Norris’s mysterious punishment from McLaren might take, following the team’s decision to impose undisclosed sanctions on the British driver after his controversial clash with teammate Oscar Piastri at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The issue traces back to the opening lap in Singapore, where Norris made light contact with Piastri during an aggressive move. While no damage or team orders were issued during the race, McLaren later confirmed that internal discussions had taken place in the days that followed. Team principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown reportedly held talks with both drivers to review the incident, eventually deciding to hold Norris “accountable” for the maneuver.
Speaking ahead of the 2025 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Norris admitted that he accepted the team’s internal decision and described it as “fair,” though he refused to elaborate on the nature of the punishment. Both he and Piastri remained tight-lipped when questioned by the media, fueling speculation within the paddock about what the “repercussions” might entail.
According to Jenson Button, who won the 2009 world championship with Brawn GP, McLaren’s disciplinary measures could impact Norris strategically rather than directly. The Briton believes the team may opt to give Piastri certain advantages during future races — particularly when it comes to pit-stop priority or race strategy decisions.
“I mean, every driver is told by their team principal that the one thing you must never do is crash into your teammate,” Button explained on Sky Sports F1. “Normally, it’s a stern talking-to and you move on to the next race. But this situation is different — these two aren’t fighting for tenth and eleventh. They’re battling for a world championship. And when that’s the case, the team has to be careful about how it manages both drivers.”
Button went on to speculate that one possible consequence could see Piastri granted first choice over pit-stop timing, a factor that can significantly influence race outcomes — especially in closely fought title battles. “Maybe Oscar will get to decide when he pits first,” Button suggested. “We’ve seen before how crucial pit-stop strategy can be, and that might be part of the reason McLaren doesn’t want to reveal what the sanction is.”
Adding to the discussion, Sky Sports commentator and former F1 driver Martin Brundle shared a similar perspective. He suggested that McLaren’s internal sanction could extend beyond race day strategy, possibly giving Piastri priority in qualifying sessions through slipstream assistance — a valuable aerodynamic benefit that can provide a few tenths of a second advantage on high-speed circuits.
“Clearly, whatever McLaren’s plan is, it’s something they want to keep private,” Brundle said. “It won’t affect their performance relative to other teams, but it does seem a little unusual. Still, I think what McLaren’s doing is commendable in the sense that they’re reinforcing discipline while maintaining the spirit of fair racing.”
Brundle also noted that had the same move in Singapore occurred against another team’s driver, McLaren would likely have praised Norris for his aggressiveness. “If it hadn’t been Piastri on the receiving end, they’d have celebrated those first few corners,” he said. “It was superbly driven, just unfortunate that he touched his teammate.”
The former driver-turned-pundit further speculated that the internal penalty might influence future development priorities as well. “If we were in a development race, it would probably be Oscar who gets the new parts first,” Brundle added. “Or if there’s a chance to use the slipstream in qualifying, Oscar would likely get first call. It’s the kind of internal balance that doesn’t harm the team overall but still reinforces accountability.”
With McLaren already securing the Constructors’ Championship, all attention is now on the intra-team title fight between Piastri and Norris. The secrecy surrounding Norris’s sanction has added an extra layer of intrigue to the championship narrative, especially as tensions rise heading into the final rounds of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
As things stand, McLaren insists that both drivers remain free to race — provided they respect one simple rule: don’t hit each other again.
