The 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza delivered thrilling action both on track and behind the pit wall. What should have been a straightforward double podium for McLaren turned into one of the most debated moments of the season, after a slow pit stop flipped the running order between teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
The Build-Up to the Incident
For most of the race, Norris held the upper hand. After battling pole-sitter Max Verstappen in the opening laps, he steadily pulled away from teammate Piastri, who sat comfortably in third. By Lap 37, Verstappen pitted for hard tyres, leaving McLaren to gamble by keeping both cars out in case of a late Safety Car. By Lap 45, it was time to switch both McLarens onto soft tyres for the sprint to the flag. Norris, as the lead driver, normally had priority in strategy calls. But understanding the potential risk of losing track position if a Safety Car was deployed right after his stop, Norris suggested that Piastri should pit first. McLaren agreed, believing there was no danger of an undercut because Piastri was 3.7 seconds behind.
The Pit Stop Drama
Piastri came in first, enjoying a clean 1.9-second service. Norris followed a lap later, but disaster struck. A problem with the front-left wheel cost him four seconds, wiping out his advantage and dropping him behind Piastri.On paper, this was just bad luck. But it triggered a dilemma: should McLaren allow Piastri to keep the place, or should they restore the original order, given Norris had led comfortably before the stop?
Team Orders at Monza
McLaren made the controversial call. Piastri was asked to hand the position back to Norris, with the reassurance that he would still be allowed to race him to the finish. Piastri complied, albeit reluctantly.“We said a slow pit stop was part of racing,” Piastri said after the race. “I don’t really get what changed here, but if you really want me to do it then I’ll do it.”Norris retook second, Piastri settled for third, and Verstappen claimed the victory. The result reduced Piastri’s championship lead from 34 points to 31.
McLaren’s Explanation
McLaren’s Explanation Team Principal Andrea Stella defended the decision, framing it as a matter of fairness and principle rather than favoritism.“The situation whereby we swapped the drivers is not only related to the pit stop,” Stella explained. “We wanted to sequence the pit stops by stopping Oscar first and then Lando. The clear intent was that this was not going to deliver a swap of positions. The slow stop compounded the situation, so we felt it was right to restore the order before letting them race.”Stella emphasized that McLaren’s priority is consistency and long-term values, not just short-term results. With major regulation changes on the horizon, both drivers and the team are keen to maintain harmony and mutual trust.
How the Drivers Reacted
While Piastri wasn’t thrilled, he accepted the bigger picture. “We don’t just want success this year,” he said. “We want the best chance at winning championships for as long as we’re Formula 1 drivers. Protecting the people around us, including those in the pit crew, is very important.”Norris, too, made clear that he did not want to inherit positions unfairly. “Today was out of my control,” he said. “I don’t want to win this way, just as Oscar wouldn’t want to lose this way.
Why It Matters: The Monza incident highlights the fine balance McLaren must strike as both its drivers fight for the world championship. While team orders are nothing new in Formula 1, the transparency of McLaren’s handling and the willingness of both Norris and Piastri to put team values ahead of personal gain may prove decisive in keeping the harmony intact. At the same time, the situation will be remembered as one of the season’s most contentious moments. Fans and pundits will debate whether McLaren was right to intervene or whether Piastri should have been allowed to keep the position.
Thoughts?
Sometimes, even the best-prepared teams get caught out by circumstance. McLaren’s Monza strategy was logical, but one slow wheel change created a headache that required quick judgment. By restoring the original order, McLaren tried to stay true to its principles. Whether or not fans agree, the controversy adds another fascinating chapter to the Norris vs Piastri battle—and to the story of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
