P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 champion questions Italian GP result after McLaren controversy
Following McLaren’s team orders controversy at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, a former F1 champion questioned the validity of one of his race wins. Max Verstappen won at Monza, but McLaren stirred up tension between their drivers by orchestrating a pit stop strategy that favored Oscar Piastri over Lando Norris. Piastri undercut Norris after a slow pit stop, leading to a request for a position swap that Piastri reluctantly agreed to.
This decision raised debates about McLaren’s strategy and the drivers’ mindset. 1996 world champion Damon Hill joked about the scenario, drawing parallels to his 1993 Italian GP win. Hill’s jest highlighted the impact team orders can have on race outcomes and historical victories.
While some, including current champion Max Verstappen, mocked McLaren’s decision, others like Piastri’s engineer justified it for maintaining fairness in the championship battle. As Piastri leads Norris by 31 points due to the swap, the upcoming races promise an intense competition between consistent Piastri and determined Norris.
The championship race remains unpredictable, with the focus shifting to how Piastri’s consistency will fare against Norris’ aggressive pursuit in the season’s remaining races.
