McLaren F1 star Lando Norris interrupted Oscar Piastri’s post-race interview in the media pen to apologise to the Australian, after the two team-mates collided at the end of the Canadian Grand Prix.
Lando Norris demonstrated both accountability and maturity after a dramatic on-track incident with teammate Oscar Piastri at the Canadian Grand Prix. The McLaren duo, locked in a tight battle for fourth place, made contact in the final stages of the race—resulting in Norris crashing out and Piastri narrowly escaping to finish fourth.
The incident unfolded on the start-finish straight as Norris, using DRS to close in on Piastri, attempted an ambitious overtake. With limited space to execute the move, Norris clipped his teammate’s car and subsequently hit the wall, bringing his race to an abrupt end. Piastri, however, maintained control and brought the car home in fourth, gaining valuable championship points and extending his lead over Norris to 22 points.
Despite the high-stakes nature of the race and what could have been a tense aftermath, the reaction from both drivers was unexpectedly calm and respectful. In a rare public show of accountability, Norris interrupted Piastri’s post-race interview in the media pen to personally apologise.
“Sorry,” Norris said quietly but audibly as he approached. Piastri, without hesitation, replied: “Nah, it’s fine,” and the two briefly stepped aside to speak privately—offering fans a glimpse of the mutual respect and understanding that underpins their working relationship.
Typically, a crash between teammates—especially for a team in the Constructors’ Championship hunt—would lead to behind-the-scenes tension and pointed discussions. But at McLaren, the mood appeared notably composed. Norris’ decision to immediately accept fault likely helped defuse any potential fallout. By taking responsibility so publicly, he not only showed professionalism but also spared team management the need for a more formal intervention.
While there may still be internal debriefs and strategy reviews in the days following the race, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown seem unlikely to discipline Norris harshly. His retirement has arguably hurt his own championship hopes more than it has impacted the team or Piastri.
The Canadian GP may, however, prompt McLaren to rethink how they manage intra-team battles in the future. Norris and Piastri have so far been allowed to race each other freely. In fact, just before the incident, Norris’ engineer Will Joseph had encouraged him to make a move, capitalizing on his DRS advantage. That freedom could come under closer scrutiny if similar risks present themselves in upcoming races.
For now, though, the focus remains on the strong bond and mutual respect between Norris and Piastri. In a sport often dominated by rivalries and finger-pointing, their calm and sportsmanlike handling of a difficult moment stands out—and sets a commendable example for the rest of the grid.
