Overview

• McLaren instructed Oscar Piastri to let Lando Norris reclaim second at Monza after a slow stop dropped Norris behind, citing a need to correct the team’s mistake and cover Charles Leclerc’s strategy.
• Piastri questioned the call on the radio but complied, later saying it was the right decision to protect the pit crew and noting Norris had the stronger race pace.
• The switch trimmed Piastri’s championship lead to 31 points with eight rounds remaining, a swing reported as six points compared with leaving the order unchanged.
• David Coulthard called the intervention a manipulation of the result, Bernie Ecclestone suggested the team favors Norris, and Robert Doornbos warned such orders risk turning races into theatre.
• Peter Windsor criticized Zak Brown’s management of the title fight, while Nico Rosberg argued there was no single correct approach and felt Norris deserved to close the gap based on his weekend performance.