**”Nico Rosberg Critiques McLaren’s Equal Driver Policy: Is it Hurting Lando Norris?”**

Nico Rosberg’s perspective on the McLaren team orders controversy

Analysis by Nico Rosberg on the Lando Norris vs. Oscar Piastri rivalry

Nico Rosberg argues that McLaren's choice to allow their drivers to compete against each other is "damaging" Lando Norris.

However, he maintained that Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc's victory at the F1 Italian Grand Prix was not necessarily a result of the decisions made by McLaren's leadership.

Norris began the race in pole position but was quickly passed by his teammate Oscar Piastri during the first lap, which put him at a disadvantage. As a result, he was unable to regain his lead and lost an opportunity to significantly challenge Max Verstappen in the drivers' championship standings.

Former Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg discussed McLaren's strategy of treating both their drivers equally in a segment for Sky Sports.

"Competing is important, but it's crucial to compete with integrity," stated Rosberg.

Sources indicate that Lando believed Oscar exceeded acceptable boundaries during their contest at Turn 4. He felt the move wasn't entirely fair.

"The McLaren motorhome is expected to see intense debates."

"It's quite challenging to handle. It's a delicate balance. You can document those regulations, but did Oscar exceed the boundaries set by the Papaya guidelines?"

"I believe Oscar performed excellently. He vacated the area and executed his task wonderfully."

McLaren's team leader, Andrea Stella, was employed at Ferrari during the period when Michael Schumacher was the clear top driver.

However, Rosberg asserts that McLaren's intriguing approach of giving equal treatment to both drivers is not his doing.

“This philosophy originates from the highest level. It’s driven by Zak Brown,” he explained.

"We have two top drivers, reflecting McLaren's longstanding tradition. Andrea is successfully implementing this strategy."

“They believed they were on track for a victory until the final moments."

"The team allowed their drivers to compete freely, making the race thrilling and entertaining. Ultimately, Ferrari took a gamble with their strategy and surprised everyone."

The issue concerns Lando and the drivers' championship. The team has chosen to continue treating both drivers equally, without giving Lando any special preference. While that is their decision, it is undoubtedly affecting Lando negatively.

Do McLaren shy away from taking risks? Norris trails Verstappen by 62 points in the drivers’ standings, even though Verstappen has been performing poorly for a while.

Karun Chandhok stated that in order to compete in the drivers' championship, they must ensure Lando gets every possible point.

"Conversely, allowing them to compete freely has benefited Oscar. He performed excellently and was the quickest McLaren driver today."

"In the long run, it is more beneficial to have Oscar as an ally."

Rosberg commented: "Lando is in great form. He's performing excellently. His confidence is soaring."

"It's encouraging that he senses 'I have an opportunity'. He remains the less favored contender."

"Lando made an error at Turn 4. Positioned on the inside, he had the upper hand but played it too safe."

Is McLaren overly cautious about taking chances?

Rosberg responded by saying, "Too cautious? It's hard to determine. They were unexpectedly caught off guard today. No one could have foreseen that Ferrari's strategy would succeed. I wouldn't label it that way based on today's events."

“Risk averse? They allow their drivers to fiercely compete! They raced side by side, and Lando nearly lost control during the duel with Oscar.”

Rosberg asserted that the McLarens' skirmish on the first lap wasn't the reason they lost the race.

"It’s not a given. Oscar performed exceptionally well. They maximized the potential of the car today," he remarked.

Explore Further

Recent Updates

Recent Updates

Site Navigation

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

It is prohibited to reproduce text, photographs, or illustrations, whether in full or in part, in any manner.