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Laurence Edmondson wonders if McLaren and Mercedes can overtake Red Bull at Spa-Francorchamps. (1:13)
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AP) — Lando Norris says he’s “not proud” that the McLaren team has ordered the controversy at the end of the Hungary Grand Prix to overshadow teammate Oscar Piastri’s first victory.
With either McLaren driver notching a 1-2 win last weekend, the team’s pit wall put Norris first to minimise any potential risk from Lewis Hamilton in third.
In doing so, the merit of Norris’ new tyre saw Piastri emerge when he made his own pit lock two laps later, with McLaren then ordering Norris to give him the lead back.
It took 15 laps, interspersed with increasingly tense radio messages, for Norris to slow down and let Piastri pass, although he later stated that he intended to give up the position.
Reflecting on the closing laps of the Hungary Grand Prix ahead of this weekend’s round in Belgium, Norris said: “It could have been a bit about the team aspect and the personal aspect?Yes, yes, absolutely. And I think in a way, I probably wouldn’t have that verbal exchange right now.
“It doesn’t bother me if other people on the outside tell their own stories about what happened, and what I would have done and what I wouldn’t have done, that kind of thing. The fact that it kind of overshadowed the first Oscars Winning in Formula 1 is something I’m not very proud of.
“The fact that we had a 1-2, and it was a bit of a big headline after the race, the fact that we had a 1-2 and nothing was said on that side, yes, that’s the kind of thing that hurts me the most.
“Other than that, we discussed it, we talked about it, it’s possible that either side has done things a little bigger and a little bit different. It’s almost not smart that they gave it to us, but it’s a smart moment that they gave it to us. “. , we’ve learned from it and hopefully next time will be better. “
When asked what he would do differently, Norris replied that he had resigned from his position without delay in order to re-establish the race between teammates as temporarily as possible.
“[I’ve] let it go right away,” Norris said. It’s so stupid that I didn’t do it, because we’re loose to run. Maybe I just let it go and still tried to pass it and make it run. “
“It’s so undeniable now, but it’s nothing like what happened to me at the time. Something as undeniable as that, you know, I may have just done it. “
“But he was in a smart rhythm and things were going well at that time. I questioned it at the time, I questioned the team several times. But I knew as soon as I was boxed in front of him, or in front of him. . . , what happened to have to let it go, I’m a bit stupid and didn’t let it go before.
He added: “I probably wasn’t thinking about the smart things at the time or what wasn’t there, as soon as they essentially said: let it go now, I let it go right away. It was never a fact. ” If I forget or don’t pay attention or that kind of thing. It was clear what I wanted to do and what I needed to do, I just let it go too long.
Piastri said he understood Norris’ preference for keeping the lead, but was surprised that it took his teammate so long to relinquish his position.
“I want to say yes and no. I wasn’t surprised because he’s a racing driver who won an F1 race,” Piastri said. “It’s absolutely natural to need to do this and give yourself each and every opportunity.
“Maybe it lasted a little longer than expected. I think that’s also something we want to discuss, whether there would have been more opportunities to compete if things had been done a little bit differently. “
“We talk about a lot of things as a team, but you can’t plan for each and every scenario. This one had some nuances that meant we were in an unprecedented position before the race. “
“I’m not surprised at all that he needs to keep the race lead and I think it’s natural. “