Rosberg Critiques McLaren’s Equal Driver Policy Amid Norris-Piastri Tensions

Nico Rosberg’s opinion on the McLaren team orders controversy

Analysis of the Lando Norris vs. Oscar Piastri battle by Nico Rosberg

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

However, he maintained that Charles Leclerc's victory for Ferrari at the F1 Italian Grand Prix was not necessarily due to decisions made by McLaren's leadership.

Lando Norris began the race in pole position, but his teammate Oscar Piastri passed him during the first lap, putting him at a disadvantage. He was unable to regain his lead and thus missed an opportunity to significantly challenge Max Verstappen in the drivers' championship standings.

Former Formula 1 champion Rosberg provided an analysis of McLaren’s strategy of not favoring one driver over the other for Sky Sports.

"Papaya's guidelines emphasize competition, but stress doing so with fairness," Rosberg stated.

Sources indicate that Lando believed Oscar exceeded acceptable boundaries during their contest at Turn 4. He felt it wasn't a fair and just maneuver.

“Intense debates are expected within the McLaren team’s motorhome.

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

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

McLaren's team principal, 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 both drivers equal treatment is not his doing.

He stated that this philosophy originates from Zak Brown at the highest level.

"We consider both of our drivers as top-tier, reflecting McLaren's long-standing philosophy. Andrea is putting this strategy into action."

"They believed they had a chance of winning right up until the final moment."

"The team allowed their drivers to compete against each other, making for an entertaining and thrilling event. Ultimately, Ferrari took a gamble with their strategy and managed to outsmart the competition."

"It's a matter of debate when it comes to Lando and the drivers' championship. However, the team has chosen to continue treating both drivers as equals, without giving Lando any special preference. That’s the route they’ve decided to take, but it’s certainly impacting Lando negatively."

Is McLaren afraid to take risks?

Norris trails Verstappen by 62 points, even though Verstappen has been performing poorly recently and still tops the drivers' standings.

Karun Chandhok expressed that in order to compete effectively in the drivers' championship, it is essential to ensure Lando maximizes his points.

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

"In the long run, it’s beneficial to have Oscar on your side, too."

Rosberg commented, "Lando has been performing exceptionally. His driving skills are impressive, and his confidence is soaring."

“It is encouraging that he senses ‘I have an opportunity’. He remains the underdog.

"Lando made an error at Turn 4. Positioned on the inside and in control, he was overly cautious."

Is McLaren overly cautious when it comes to taking chances?

Rosberg responded, "It's hard to claim they were too cautious. They were taken by surprise today. No one could have foreseen Ferrari's strategy working out. Based on today's events, I wouldn't say so."

"Risk averse? They allowed their drivers to fiercely compete against each other! They went head-to-head, and Lando nearly lost control during the duel with Oscar."

Rosberg maintained that McLaren's internal competition during the first lap did not prevent them from winning the race.

"Not necessarily. Oscar had an outstanding race. They maximized the potential of the car today," he remarked.

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