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Here’s how McLaren has justified its controversial Norris-Piastri swap at the Italian GP
McLaren’s decision to give the team order for Oscar Piastri to return the second place to Lando Norris in the closing laps of the 2025 Italian Grand Prix was based on the team’s belief that their pitstop strategy should not have resulted in a position swap.
In Formula 1, the leading McLaren driver typically has strategic priority, as was the case with Norris at Monza.
The team chose to pit Piastri first during the race to avoid the risk of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari overtaking him, although admitting that pitting both drivers earlier would have been simpler but limiting in terms of potential outcome.
McLaren aimed for a bigger result by staying out longer in the race and pitting late for soft tires, hoping for advantages in case of a safety car situation.
However, this approach ultimately didn’t result in victory, with Red Bull’s Verstappen finishing significantly ahead, highlighting the risks of relying on external factors for success.
