Lando Norris has apologised and admitted he caused the collision with team-mate Oscar Piastri in Saturday's Singapore Grand Prix sprint race. The climb-down comes after McLaren chief Andrea Stella said his drivers would be reminded that there is no place for a driver's "ego" in the organisation.
The Italian did not mention either of his drivers by name, but it was seen by many as an indirect message to Norris. Indeed, Norris was particularly bullish about the situation in the media pen after the Sprint race. He cut across Sky Sports F1 reporter Craig Slater's questions, telling him: "Of course [the move was on] otherwise I wouldn't have gone for it. It was [on]."
Sarcastic exchange with broadcaster
But he was even more disparaging when speaking to Dutch broadcaster Viaplay. A clip of his interview went viral in the hours after Saturday's sprint race, which began with the Brit saying: "It was a big gap, so I went for it. I have the right to do that."
His tone, however, turned sarcastic when he interrupted the journalist to ask: "What's the title of the race?" When the reporter replied to say it was the sprint, Norris continued: "Sprint... What's after sprint?" The journalist then said: "Race," after which Norris smirked and said condescendingly: "Wow, good job."
McLaren did not want to give their drivers too much of a dressing down before qualifying and the main Grand Prix, but made it clear they will be left under no illusion about how seriously the team takes its two drivers colliding with each other on track once the weekend was over.
Norris admits mistake
After finishing fourth in Sunday's Grand Prix, Norris admitted himself that he had been in the wrong – even if the stewards decided that neither McLaren driver was more at fault for the contact than the other. He said: "I can't attempt what I did. I should never have attempted it in the first place, even if the move was on."
"I've simply got to think more of the team that I represent rather than myself. It was a mistake on my part and I let down the team. So I first of all apologise to all of them. I owe them all an apology, and I'll do better next time."
Stella's stern response
Stella told reporters in Singapore that he took the situation "seriously". He added: "The damage for the team is material. We are in a close fight in the championship. We had the ambition to challenge Ferrari and this is a problem in the challenge to the second position. We have an ambition to finish ahead of Red Bull and this is a problem to finish ahead of Red Bull."
"It is also serious because we come from a few seasons in which we have reflected together, team and drivers, as to how we approach racing together and how we make sure that the interest of the team is protected."
"I am, if anything, disappointed – disappointed as a team principal for a situation that is absolutely not acceptable because it caused a material damage to the team, and every member of the team know that the team interest comes before any personal interest, but above all is the main beacon that guides our action and our instinct."
