McLaren’s approach to racing in the title fight between their drivers sparked controversy as Max Verstappen won the Italian Grand Prix for Red Bull.
McLaren ordered Oscar Piastri to cede second place to team-mate Lando Norris after a slow pit stop dropped the Briton behind the Australian after he had been running in second for most of the race.
McLaren unconventionally pitted Piastri before Norris as they left their pit stops late in the race in the hope of a safety car that could give them a chance to attack Verstappen.
But after Piastri had a clean stop on lap 45 with eight to go, when Norris stopped a lap later, a fault with a wheel gun delayed him, and his stop was four seconds longer than his team-mate’s.
That put him behind Piastri, but the team ordered the championship leader to relinquish the position, arguing that it was “a bit like Hungary last year”.
That was a reference to Norris letting Piastri by to take his first win after team strategy reversed their positions for tactical reasons.
Piastri said he disagreed but followed the order anyway.
There will be arguments that the situations were not comparable – and that a fault in the pits is just part of the twisting fortunes of racing.
The result cuts Piastri’s lead over Norris by three points to 31 with eight races to go.
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McLaren’s decision will be a focus for some time in the title fight
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Verstappen marked a return to form for Red Bull, which may be track-specific
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A hectic couple of laps at the start preceded a race of little incident until Norris’ pit stop
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More bad luck for Fernando Alonso, who retired with suspension failure after an outstanding weekend for Aston Martin
