Piastri Justifies Racing Incident Collision with Norris at US Grand Prix
Oscar Piastri has defended his recent collision with Lando Norris during the sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Piastri characterized the incident as a racing mishap while they competed for second place. He currently holds a 22-point lead over Norris in the championship standings.
Piastri’s Perspective on the Collision
During the race, Piastri attempted a maneuver to pass Norris but made contact with Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg, which propelled him into his teammate. This incident marked the second collision involving McLaren in just two weeks, the first occurring in Singapore, where Norris received blame from the team.
Piastri expressed that it would be unfair to assign blame for the Austin collision, stating, “I think for me, it’s a racing incident.” He noted that he was positioned far from the apex and that the drivers following were also entering the corner aggressively.
Norris Responds
Norris opted not to engage in a blame game regarding the collision. He indicated that the team would examine the incident and reiterated the importance of analyzing such events comprehensively after the race. “Like all things that we do as a team, it will be reviewed,” he said.
Impact on the Championship
The collision gave Red Bull’s Max Verstappen an opportunity to gain ground in the standings, earning him eight points and reducing his deficit to Piastri to 55 points. Verstappen will start the upcoming grand prix from pole position, with Norris in second and Piastri in sixth.
Piastri’s Recent Performance
Despite a strong start to the season, Piastri admits his performance has declined since winning the Dutch Grand Prix. He remarked, “I haven’t felt comfortable with the car, really,” which may have contributed to his struggles in Austin and Singapore.
Team Review Process
McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, confirmed that a review of the incident would occur after the race weekend. He stated that the focus for Piastri and Norris had been on preparation for the remaining sessions rather than dwelling on past incidents. Stella emphasized the importance of a forward-looking mindset in racing.
In summary, the collision between Piastri and Norris has sparked discussions about accountability and team dynamics in McLaren. With both drivers eager to advance in the championship, future evaluations of their conduct on the track will be crucial as they continue their competitive journey in the season.
