Overview

• McLaren confirmed it told Oscar Piastri to hand back second to Lando Norris after a slow pit stop for Norris, framing the call as restoring the pre-stop running order on principle.
• The instruction carried a six-point swing in the standings and leaves Piastri 31 points ahead of Norris with eight races remaining.
• Piastri questioned the decision over team radio before complying, and Norris finished second behind race winner Max Verstappen.
• Reaction is split: Martin Brundle and Nico Rosberg defended the move as fair in context, while Bernie Ecclestone, Helmut Marko and Toto Wolff criticized the precedent; Verstappen said he would not have obeyed such an order.
• Rosberg warned the rivalry could turn ruthless and urged McLaren to codify its ‘papaya’ rules to cover tricky scenarios and avoid repeat controversies.