Lando Norris finished second at the 2025 F1 Italian GP, after a bit of late-race drama after he had a slow pit stop on lap 47 and momentarily lost his second place to team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri, as the Australian had to be asked to let his McLaren team-mate through.
Although it sparked much controversy and debate in the paddock, Norris believes it was nothing unusual, as there is an agreement in place for the course of action should such situations arise.
“No doubt” that Piastri would give the place back
Norris was adamant that it was never a question if Piastri would give his place back, explaining it was an agreement between the team:
“No, because it’s what we decided as a team. and it’s what we all agreed upon.”
Further expanding on the matter, Norris firmly stated that he and his McLaren team are not “idiots” and that the swap wouldn’t have happened in different or less favourable circumstances – as would be the case if there were other cars in between the two McLarens or if they were actually racing for position – both of which weren’t the case in Monza, as the Briton was clearly quicker than the championship leader throughout the first stint, keeping a gap of over six seconds most of the time.
“Every situation is different, so I think it’s pretty stupid just to assume that kind of thing and just say that’s the precedent,” he said. “We’re not idiots, and we have plans for different things. If there was four cars in between me and Oscar of course he’s not going to let me back past, and I don’t think that’s correct that he’d let me back past.
“But in a situation where we weren’t racing, in a situation where we can just be fair, then you’d expect to be fair as a team. They don’t want to be the reason to upset one driver or another through no fault of their own, today was not my fault.“
Why “out of his control” situation triggered a swap
Although he emphasized that this is not the way he wants to win or gain points over his title rival, Norris was clear that this wouldn’t have happened if he’d been responsible for his slow stop, overshooting his pit box like he did at the 2024 British GP, which at the time cost him the lead to Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes:
“If I came flat out into my box and I hit all my mechanics out the way, I also don’t expect to get a position back. But today was out of my control and in the end I don’t want this, like I don’t want it to win this way through getting given positions or anything like that.
“And the same thing with with Oscar, we don’t want to lose or win like that, but we do what we think is correct as a team, no matter what you say or what your opinions are and we stick to doing it our way.”
The “nerve-wrackingly” close battle with Verstappen
From second on the grid, Norris slipped his McLaren down the inside of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull on the run down to the first chicane, but swiftly met the grass as the track narrowed down.
The reigning world champion had to give the place back as he went off-track to retain his position.
“It was a little bumpy at one point, but it was what I expected” he said of his battle with Verstappen. “It was close and it was fun racing, tough again as expected, but enjoyable.
“It’s what I probably enjoy more than anything, is these kind of battles. It was in a way nice to go out on top for a couple laps, but it didn’t last very long, and Max’s pace was was just far too good for us today, especially in the first three quarters of the first stint.
“Even when he got me into turn one, we were both pretty late on the brakes and we just about made the corner, it was close [and] I felt like there was probably a little bit of [tyre] rubbing at some point, so like nerve-wrackingly close and exciting for that reason.“
Norris’ measured risks against “stronger” Verstappen
The McLaren driver explained how Verstappen was in a “stronger” position to go wheel-to-wheel, given the lack of a championship chance for the Red Bull, whilst he had to be careful to avoid any sort of damage or potential issues that would derail his title quest – but ultimately admitted Red Bull’s pace was just superior on the day:
“I wish it could last a bit longer than what it did. Just a tough race for us, not the pace we wanted, I think we were hoping to at least fight for a win, but Max’s race was a bit too easy today, so work to do clearly for our side.”
“The main part I said was nerve-wrackingly close was when he overtook me into turn one on the outside on like lap [four], so that’s the one where it’s like ‘who wants to brake the latest’,
“But I knew being on the inside that Max is in a much more strong position than I am. He can afford to be a lot more on the edge and aggressive than I can, I can’t afford to lose a front wing or have a little bit damage whatever it may be, so I felt like I took the risks that I needed to take and did my part, but just not quick enough.”
Norris is now 31 points back from his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, with just eight races and three sprints remaining in the 2025 F1 season.
