P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren caused a stir with a team order at the Italian Grand Prix last weekend, which saw Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri swap positions.
Former F1 driver David Coulthard criticized McLaren’s intervention with their drivers at the Italian Grand Prix, describing it as “manipulating the result.”
Oscar Piastri was instructed to give second place back to Lando Norris after Norris fell behind due to a slow pit stop.
This team order was issued during their close championship battle, with Piastri currently holding a 31-point lead over his teammate.
The decision has sparked controversy, with most RacingNews365 readers believing McLaren was wrong to give the order.
Coulthard expressed discomfort with the instruction, advocating for fair wheel-to-wheel racing instead of dictated outcomes.
Despite acknowledging McLaren’s right to make such decisions, he emphasized the emotional turmoil faced by drivers when forced to yield positions to teammates or rivals.
In Coulthard’s view, true racing success should be earned on merit rather than handed over, a sentiment rooted in the unique experiences and commitments of drivers.
