In Montreal, facing reporters after the race, Lando Norris paused before addressing the inevitable questions regarding his incident.
Just under an hour prior, Norris had collided with his McLaren teammate and championship rival, Oscar Piastri, while contesting fourth position. The incident ended his Canadian Grand Prix prematurely and marked a surprising turn in a season where Norris is seeking his maiden F1 title, a campaign that has seen moments of inconsistency.
While it represented a low ebb in his inconsistent 2025 season, Norris addressed the aftermath with a level of candidness rarely witnessed among top-tier racing drivers.
“I should never have attempted it,” Norris admitted, reflecting on the move. He explained his thought process, believing Piastri was moving slightly right, creating a gap to the left. However, he quickly added, “It was far too risky, particularly with my teammate.” Expressing relief that Piastri was unharmed, Norris stated, “I paid the price for my error.”
The consequences were indeed significant. Norris`s race ended on the spot, his car hitting the wall. Piastri went on to finish fourth, increasing his championship advantage over Norris to 22 points.
Although this gap is not insurmountable – a win in Austria could potentially put Norris back in the lead if Piastri scores no points – the incident fuels the arguments of critics who question Norris`s championship readiness. His error against his teammate will likely be cited by those who believe he is a gifted driver but susceptible to significant mistakes under pressure. Presently, it`s difficult to argue that Norris is the McLaren driver demonstrating the most consistent championship-winning form.
Norris has typically dismissed external opinions, focusing instead on the views of his inner circle. Notably, his primary concern after the race wasn`t the championship standings, but the impact on the McLaren team, with whom he has been since his F1 debut in 2019, and even longer in their junior ranks.
Speaking to the press, Norris expressed deep regret.
“I`ve let down the team, and that will weigh on me,” he stated sullenly. He elaborated on his feelings: “When I disappoint them like this, and make a mistake like today, I feel immense regret. I`m not proud of it. Feeling like I`ve let down my team is always the worst.” He concluded that his apologies were primarily owed to the entire team and Oscar.
Within the McLaren team, Norris`s swift acceptance of responsibility was highly valued. For some time, concerns had existed internally that the positive dynamic between the young, evenly matched, and ambitious drivers pursuing a championship might eventually face strain. Once McLaren`s car proved to be a front-runner, the potential for their title-contending drivers to clash on track became a significant worry. Team boss Andrea Stella had recently commented that a collision was a matter of `when`, not `if`. Sunday delivered that `when` moment dramatically. However, expectations of a major fallout or a permanent rift between the drivers proved unfounded.
Immediate self-criticism is uncommon in F1, making Norris`s response stand in stark contrast to Max Verstappen`s reaction to his own recent error – driving into George Russell`s car at the previous race. Verstappen initially remained unapologetic and even appeared dismissive, only offering a partial retraction the following day via social media, which notably stopped short of an apology. He later expressed frustration with media questions about the incident during the Montreal weekend.
Norris, known for his self-critical nature, ensured his reaction differed completely. Although he might have chosen a different path, he commendably took full responsibility immediately, acknowledging it was entirely his fault. His apologies began over the team radio even before he exited the car. He then personally apologized to team principal Andrea Stella and, notably, interrupted a television interview to shake Piastri`s hand, make eye contact, and apologize directly.
Norris`s handling of the situation clearly impressed Piastri.
“Lando has apologised to me, which speaks volumes,” the Australian driver noted. He praised Norris`s character, saying, “Lando is a genuinely good person. His personality allows him to say exactly what he thinks, even if it`s self-critical, and I believe that`s an excellent trait.” Piastri added that this openness is beneficial for the team, enabling them to navigate challenging racing incidents together.
Team boss Andrea Stella echoed Piastri`s positive view.
“We truly valued Lando`s immediate ownership of the situation,” Stella stated. He highlighted that Norris “raised his hand, accepted responsibility for the crash, and apologized to the team right away,” also seeking out Stella personally to extend his apology to the entire squad.
Stella then made a point perhaps more significant for the long-term dynamics within the team. While headlines will focus on the incident`s impact on Norris`s championship prospects and raise fair questions about his consistency compared to Piastri`s calculated approach – making a bet on Norris overturning the deficit seem challenging right now – Stella`s perspective offered a different angle.
However, this remains a long season, with the British Grand Prix in three weeks marking only the halfway point of a notably extended championship calendar. The duration of the season might partly explain why the tension between the McLaren drivers hasn`t escalated dramatically yet – they seem to share a genuine mutual respect and liking, which Norris`s reaction on Sunday certainly helped preserve.
McLaren`s apprehension about their drivers eventually colliding stemmed from their policy of allowing them to race freely and equally. This approach has been refined since the `papaya rules` controversy during last year`s Italian Grand Prix, where different interpretations of team orders led to a close call between the two at the Roggia chicane. That earlier incident served as an initial hint of the challenges their close racing might bring in the 2025 season.
The first actual track collision between the orange cars could have prompted Zak Brown or Andrea Stella to reconsider their strategy for managing close driver battles. While some have previously criticized Norris`s openness, including discussing his past mental health challenges, viewing it as a sign of weakness – arguments for another time – his reaction in Montreal highlighted a significant strength. By handling the crash with Piastri in a manner consistent with his honest character, Norris benefitted himself in ways that might not be immediately obvious.
As Stella emphasized, Norris`s sincere apology played a crucial role.
Stella stated that while the incident might affect Norris`s confidence, the team is fully behind him. “On this one, I want to be completely clear, it`s full support to Lando,” Stella affirmed. He acknowledged that tough conversations might occur, but stressed, “there’s no doubt over the support we give to Lando, and over the fact that we will preserve our parity and equality… That situation would be different if Lando would have not taken responsibility and apologised.”
In essence, Norris`s immediate and sincere contrition meant McLaren saw no reason to change their policy of letting their drivers race freely, a policy that had inadvertently allowed the collision to happen.
Dominic Ashworth