McLaren’s Hungarian GP Drama: A Test of Team Unity and Future Implications for Norris and Piastri

Is there an internal issue at McLaren after the controversy over team orders at the Hungarian Grand Prix?

What impact will the turmoil over team orders at McLaren have on the relationship between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the future?

At the Hungarian Grand Prix, the McLaren F1 squad had a smooth run with Oscar Piastri in the lead, followed by his teammate Lando Norris, until they reached the 46th lap.

The choice to bring Norris in first ultimately became the pivotal moment that led to a challenging conclusion for McLaren.

It sounds surprising considering they achieved a first and second place at the Hungaroring, yet they managed to make the situation quite challenging for themselves.

McLaren's cautious strategy during the race led them to bring Norris into the pits early to stay ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Shortly afterward, Piastri was called in for new tires, two laps later than Norris, ensuring he had a tyre advantage over Max Verstappen.

This resulted in Norris unexpectedly moving to the front of the pack, despite being second to Piastri for the preceding 48 laps.

McLaren found themselves in a position where they had to plead with Norris to give up his leading position, with race engineer Will Joseph persistently communicating with the British driver as he extended his lead over his teammate.

Norris ultimately complied, clearing the path for Piastri to secure his first Formula 1 win.

Through Norris' perspective, he had always intended to return the position.

During the post-race media session, attended by Crash.net in the paddock, he declared, "I have clarity on my actions and limitations. Naturally, I'll scrutinize and contest it, which is exactly what I undertook. Indeed, my strategy was to hold off until the final lap, the very last bend."

"However, they mentioned that if a Safety Car were to unexpectedly appear and I didn't allow Oscar to pass, it would have left me appearing somewhat foolish. Indeed, at that moment, I acknowledged, 'yes, that's a reasonable argument'."

"I released him, maybe with two left or around that. Immediately, I did release him. So, essentially, that's how you perceive it based on what you hear. However, this is common across all sports."

"It's up to you to interpret what you've been told and what you believe you understand, among other things. However, I was always intent on returning it unless they reconsidered their stance. They didn't, so everything is fine."

Was Norris' choice the correct one?

Given Verstappen's challenging day, ending in fifth place, it presented an ideal chance for Norris to take advantage.

If Norris had secured a victory in Hungary, Verstappen's lead in the overall standings would have been narrowed down to only 69 points. As McLaren is gaining momentum, those seven points could prove crucial by the season's culmination.

Nonetheless, team leader Andrea Stella emphasized that Norris might require Piastri's support down the line to surpass Verstappen in the current year's championship battle.

Stella told Sky Sports, "For a driver aiming to be a contender in the championship – especially Lando, who is currently leading – it's crucial to have Oscar and the entire team's support. That is our strategy moving forward."

Norris' choice to follow team directives, despite the immediate discomfort it brings due to missing out on victories and the championship pursuit, still maintains the bond of trust with Piastri.

If Norris had prioritized his personal gains, his bond with Piastri would have undoubtedly deteriorated at the very least.

It's not rare for top-tier racing drivers to ignore instructions from their team, but considering Norris isn't a titleholder or a frequent race victor, taking such a risk that could cause significant turmoil, especially with future prospects in mind, would not have been a prudent decision.

There could come a day when Norris has to go against the team's wishes, but Sunday was not that day.

The controversy surrounding team orders has overshadowed McLaren's remarkable performance this weekend.

For the initial time in the current year, McLaren fully capitalized on their capabilities to earn the highest possible points, reducing Red Bull’s advantage in the constructors' rankings to 51 points.

The entire situation regarding team orders was brought upon by the team itself, indicating a broader problem within the organization.

From an operational standpoint, McLaren has consistently underperformed with their strategic decisions, evidenced by their performances in Canada and Britain, and now, Hungary can be added to that roster.

McLaren's hesitation and cautious strategy persist in being a disadvantage, and it's an issue they must address if they aim to secure any championship title this year.

The weekend in Hungary was a fantastic experience for them, although it had the potential to become significantly less pleasant.

Is Norris the focus for McLaren?

As the season progresses with 11 races left, Norris trails Verstappen by 76 points.

This implies that, on average, Norris must secure a seven-point advantage over Verstappen in each of the upcoming 11 races.

Considering McLaren's rising performance compared to Red Bull, it’s certainly feasible.

However, team leader Andrea Stella is not willing to specify which of their drivers holds the top "number one" position.

"He explained, “Having Oscar and Lando on board puts us in the fortunate position of not having to choose a primary driver. This approach not only simplifies matters for some of us, including me, but it also avoids creating frustration within the team and aligns with our core racing philosophy and ambitions.”

"We compete with integrity, and when one of the drivers achieves a position based on their performance, we honor that achievement. However, if it comes down to the final few races and one of the drivers has a significant chance at the championship, we might reconsider this stance."

"However, my anticipation is that… the other driver will approach me, offering assistance against the competitor in the championship race, indicating their willingness to help if needed."

"I believe that by handling situations like today's in a just manner, as I feel we have, you cultivate this kind of culture."

Should the distance narrow considerably once more following Spa, it's certain to be a major topic of conversation among McLaren's senior leaders as they aim for their first championship since 2008, especially as the year progresses into its latter half.

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