Rosberg Criticizes McLaren Strategy: Lando Norris ‘Hurt’ by Equal Footing with Piastri

Nico Rosberg weighs in on the McLaren team orders controversy

Nico Rosberg evaluates the rivalry between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

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

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

Norris began the race in pole position but was quickly surpassed by his teammate, Oscar Piastri, during the initial lap. This early setback hindered his performance for the rest of the race. As a result, he was unable to capitalize on an opportunity to significantly challenge Max Verstappen in the drivers' championship.

Former Formula 1 champion Rosberg discussed McLaren's strategy of treating both drivers equally during his segment on Sky Sports.

"Papaya's regulations prioritize competition, but it must be conducted justly," Rosberg stated.

Sources indicate that Lando believed Oscar exceeded the acceptable boundaries during the confrontation at Turn 4. Lando felt it wasn't a fair contest.

"Intense debates are expected within the McLaren team headquarters."

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

"I believe Oscar performed excellently. He vacated the area and executed his duties superbly."

McLaren team leader Andrea Stella was employed at Ferrari during the time 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.

"Zak Brown himself dictates this philosophy from the highest level," he stated.

"We have two top-tier drivers, as this is a core principle of McLaren that has a long-standing tradition. Andrea is implementing this strategy."

"They believed they had a shot at victory right up to the final moment."

"They allowed their drivers to compete against each other, making the race thrilling and entertaining. Ultimately, Ferrari took a strategic gamble that paid off."

The situation with Lando and the drivers’ championship has raised some questions. The decision has been made to continue treating both drivers as equals, rather than giving Lando any special preference. While this is the choice they’ve made, it’s clear that it’s having a negative impact on Lando.

Are McLaren hesitant to take risks?

Norris trails Verstappen by 62 points, even though Verstappen remains at the top of the drivers' standings despite experiencing a rough patch.

Karun Chandhok stated that to compete in the drivers’ championship, it's essential to ensure Lando receives all possible points.

"Conversely, allowing them to compete has benefited Oscar. He delivered an outstanding performance and was the quickest McLaren driver today."

"In the long run, it's more advantageous to have Oscar as an ally."

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

“It’s inspiring for him to sense that there’s an opportunity. He remains the less favored contender.”

"Lando made an error at Turn 4. Positioned on the inside and in control, he acted too cautiously."

Is McLaren overly cautious about taking chances?

Rosberg responded by saying, "It's hard to claim they were overly cautious. They were taken by surprise today. No one could have foreseen Ferrari's strategy working. I wouldn't label it that way based on today's events."

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

Rosberg asserted that the confrontation between the McLaren drivers during the first lap did not prevent them from winning the race.

"Not necessarily. Oscar had an amazing performance on the track. They maximized the potential of the car today," he stated.

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