Overview

• After a delayed front-left pit stop dropped Lando Norris behind Oscar Piastri, McLaren instructed Piastri to yield; the Australian objected on radio but complied.
• Team chief Andrea Stella defended the call as a pitwall decision to reestablish pre-stop order, reiterating McLaren’s stance that it runs without a designated number one driver.
• Max Verstappen dominated to win at Monza and later said he would not have obeyed a similar order, as Red Bull’s step forward is linked to upgrades and Laurent Mekies’ leadership.
• The result trimmed Piastri’s lead over Norris to 31 points with Verstappen 94 back (Piastri 324, Norris 293, Verstappen 230), keeping McLaren ahead in the title race but inviting scrutiny over its race management.
• Separately, Cadillac confirmed Colton Herta as its third F1 driver and Andretti Global named veteran Will Power as Herta’s IndyCar replacement.