P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren race winner demands team orders change
Former McLaren F1 driver David Coulthard criticized an aspect of the team’s current operations after their 2025 double championship win with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
It was McLaren’s first double victory since 1998, reminiscent of Coulthard’s partnership with Mika Hakkinen in the Constructors’ Championship.
Coulthard, who won most of his races with McLaren, highlighted the evolution of team orders, expressing discontent with the current practice of direct communication from race engineers.
He suggests that team principals or sporting directors should be responsible for issuing such directives to drivers instead of race engineers.
Coulthard emphasizes the importance of a strong relationship between drivers and engineers, advocating for a professional approach that prioritizes winning over team orders.
