Norris confirms ‘telling-offs’ after collision with Piastri
It appears Lando Norris won’t be attempting any daring inside moves on McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri anytime soon.
The reigning Formula 1 world champion has revealed he received “plenty of telling-offs” from team bosses following their costly collision in Singapore in early October.
Oscar Piastri (L) crashes into the wall after clipping the tyre of teammate Lando Norris (R). Fox Sports
During the build-up to this weekend’s US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, journalist Ted Kravitz pressed Norris on McLaren’s rules of engagement, asking if the British driver was still permitted to go for gaps on the circuit.
“I can go for a gap on Oscar even,” Norris shot back.
However, when pushed further, Norris backed down, admitting he had received a firm dressing-down from the team’s leadership following the sprint race incident.
“Oh no, I got plenty of telling-offs and plenty of words have been said,” the reigning champ admitted.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown noted the team had “forgiven” both drivers for compromising their race at a critical juncture in the season.
While team principal Andrea Stella was reportedly seething as he left Singapore, Brown took a more pragmatic view, acknowledging more tangles would be inevitable, but said clear boundaries had been set.
“Of course, we’ve forgiven them,” Brown said.
"They're racing drivers; these things happen. It wasn't malicious, and that's what we really look for. It was racing, and the risk wasn't worth the rewards.
"Of course, we had those discussions, but I don't anticipate that happening again. But it certainly wasn't anything intentional or malicious.
“And if I was going to Vegas, I would say that at some point in the future, I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened again because they’re racing drivers.”
Despite Norris’ reprimand, luck didn’t swing Piastri’s way during the early sessions at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin.
The Australian finished seventh and eighth in the first and second practice sessions, respectively.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc led the way on Saturday (AEDT), with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli a close second ahead of a race that could make him Formula 1’s youngest champion.
Leclerc set the pace in a sunny second practice after also being fastest in the earlier session with a time of 1:36.052 seconds in his upgraded car.
Piastri couldn’t find any extra pace in Austin. Chris Graythen
Antonelli was fifth in session one and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was closest to Leclerc.
The Italian, who complained about his seat moving, then improved to second place in the second practice.
McLaren’s reigning champion Norris was third-fastest in practice one and then seventh later on.
The US Grand Prix will take place at 7am (AEDT) on Monday, with qualifying beginning at 8am on Sunday.
