**”McLaren’s Hungarian GP Team Orders: Internal Strife or Strategic Necessity?”**

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

What impact will McLaren's team order situation have on the relationship between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the future?

The McLaren F1 team was having a smooth race at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with Oscar Piastri ahead of his teammate Lando Norris until Lap 46.

Choosing to bring Norris in first marked the crucial moment that led to a difficult conclusion for McLaren.

It's surprising to mention, considering they achieved both first and second place at the Hungaroring, yet they complicated matters for themselves.

McLaren opted for a cautious strategy during the race, deciding to bring Norris into the pits first in order to defend against Lewis Hamilton. Piastri was called in for new tires two laps later, ensuring he had a significant advantage in tire performance over Max Verstappen.

This situation resulted in Norris taking the lead in the race, even though he hadn't earned it since he had been trailing Piastri for the last 48 laps.

McLaren had to practically plead with Norris to give up his lead, as race engineer Will Joseph persistently urged him over the radio while the British driver increased the gap from his teammate.

Norris finally complied, allowing Piastri to secure his first-ever Formula 1 win.

From Norris’ perspective, he had always intended to relinquish the position.

During the post-race press conference, which Crash.net attended in the paddock, he stated, "I am clear about my actions and my limits. Naturally, I decided to question and challenge the situation, which is exactly what I did. Indeed, my plan was to wait until the final lap and the last corner."

“But then they mentioned that if a Safety Car appeared unexpectedly and I couldn’t allow Oscar to pass, I would end up looking foolish. At that moment, I realized they had a valid argument.”

"I released him, maybe with two laps remaining or something like that. Immediately after, I let him go. So, yes, that's just your interpretation of what you heard. But that's common in all sports."

"You can form your own conclusions based on what you hear and believe. However, I was always planning to return it unless they changed their stance. They didn't, so everything is fine."

Did Norris choose wisely?

As Verstappen struggled and ended up in fifth place, Norris had an ideal chance to take advantage of the situation.

If Norris had secured victory in Hungary, Verstappen’s lead in the standings would have been reduced to 69 points. With McLaren's increasing dominance, those seven points could prove crucial by the season's conclusion.

Nonetheless, team principal Andrea Stella promptly emphasized that Norris will probably require assistance from Piastri at some stage in order to challenge Verstappen in this year's championship battle.

Stella told Sky Sports that for a driver aiming to be competitive in the championship, especially Lando who is in a better position, it is crucial to have the backing of both Oscar and the team. This is the approach they are adopting going forward.

Norris' choice to follow team orders, despite being a tough call because it affects his chances of winning and competing for the championship, hasn't damaged the trust he shares with Piastri.

If Norris had prioritized his own interests, his relationship with Piastri would have entirely fallen apart.

It’s not unusual for top-tier drivers to ignore team instructions, but since Norris hasn’t secured a championship or won numerous races, causing such a disturbance with a long-term perspective wouldn’t have been a smart move.

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

A broader problem for McLaren

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

For the first time this year, McLaren fully capitalized on their capabilities to earn the highest possible points, reducing Red Bull's advantage to 51 points in the constructors' championship.

However, the problem with team orders was created by the team itself and indicates a broader problem within the organization.

McLaren has consistently underperformed in their strategic decisions, as seen in races like Canada and Britain, and now Hungary can be added to that list.

McLaren's hesitation and cautious strategy are still proving detrimental, and they must change this if they hope to secure either championship this year.

Hungay was a fantastic weekend for them, although it could have quickly taken a negative turn.

Will McLaren put their focus on Norris?

As the season has 11 races left, Norris trails behind Verstappen by 76 points.

Therefore, Norris must score an average of seven more points than Verstappen in each of the 11 races left in the season.

Considering McLaren's recent progress compared to Red Bull, it could happen.

However, team principal Andrea Stella is declining to designate either of their drivers as the definitive “number one”.

He explained, "Having Oscar and Lando puts us in the fortunate situation where we don't have to choose a lead driver. This makes things simpler for some, including myself, but it can also frustrate the whole team and go against our core racing philosophy and ambitions."

“We compete honestly, and if either driver achieves a result through their own skill, that result will be upheld. However, if it's towards the end of the season and one driver has a significant chance at the championship, we might reconsider our approach.”

"What I'm anticipating is that the other driver will approach me and offer assistance with dealing with the competitor, as he is also involved in the championship race."

"I believe you establish this spirit by handling days like today in an equitable manner, which I think we've achieved."

Should the gap narrow considerably once more following the Spa race, it will certainly become a major topic of conversation among McLaren's senior leadership as they aim to secure their first championship title since 2008.

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