Lando Norris takes accountability for costly Canadian GP collision with Piastri

Lando Norris Admits Mistake After Collision with Teammate at Canadian GP

MONTREAL — McLaren's Lando Norris candidly admitted he "made a fool of himself" after colliding with teammate Oscar Piastri during the closing stages of the Canadian Grand Prix, which resulted in Norris’ retirement from the race and a critical blow to his championship aspirations.

The incident unfolded as the two McLaren drivers intensively battled for fourth position. Norris attempted a bold move but ended up slamming into the back of Piastri's car, forcing his own immediate retirement due to damage. In the aftermath, Norris expressed deep regret, assuming full responsibility both over the team radio and to reporters post-race.

"Sorry," Norris said over the radio shortly after the crash. "All my bad. All my fault. Stupid from me."

Speaking to the press, the British driver elaborated on his misjudgment: "I should never have gone for it. It's my complete hindsight thing. I thought [Piastri] was starting to drift a little bit to the right, so there was an opportunity on the left. Way too much risk, especially on my teammate. Happy nothing happened to him, and I paid the price for my mistake."

Breaking the Rule of Avoiding Contact

Acknowledging the unwritten rule of avoiding intra-team contact, Norris stated: "Our rule number one is to not make contact with my teammate, and that's what I did. McLaren is my family, I race for them. Every single weekend, I try and do well for them—more than I often try and do well for myself. So when I let them down like this and make a fool of myself, I have a lot of regret. I'm not proud of that."

As a gesture of sportsmanship, Norris confirmed he sought out Piastri immediately after the race to apologize personally for the incident.

Oscar Piastri Reflects on the Collision

Oscar Piastri, who managed to finish fourth despite the collision, sustained no apparent damage to his car. Speaking about the situation, Piastri commended Norris for owning up to the mistake and reassured fans that the team’s harmony remains strong.

"Lando is a very good guy, and I think it's in his character to say exactly what he thinks," Piastri said. "Even if it's detrimental to himself, he openly takes responsibility, and I think that's a great quality. I believe we can move forward together and tackle these things as a team."

When pressed about whether the collision might cause tension within McLaren, Piastri dismissed the notion: "I think everything will stay the same. It was just an unfortunate incident on a straight rather than over-aggressiveness in a corner. For me, I don’t believe this changes anything, and I’m confident in our ability to move forward."

Andrea Stella Praises Norris’ Accountability

McLaren boss Andrea Stella weighed in on the collision, emphasizing how it could serve as a valuable learning opportunity for the team and the drivers.

"We’ve said a few times that it wasn't a matter of if, but a matter of when [they collided]," Stella remarked. "Today was the 'when.' It’s painful to see two McLarens having contact, as this goes against our principles. However, racing incidents like these can happen, and that’s part of the sport."

Stella praised Norris for immediately taking accountability: "We appreciated that Lando raised his hand and took responsibility for the accident. He apologized to the team and Oscar, which is important to ensure we respond as a unit and grow from this experience."

Stella concluded: "The incident will bolster our internal competition and strengthen our approach as we continue fighting for a world championship. The situation is disappointing but also an important learning point."

Championship Impact and Moving Forward

The crash marks a setback for Norris in the championship standings, where he now trails teammate Piastri by 22 points. While the stewards are still investigating the incident, the race concluded under a safety car with a resilient Piastri defending fourth position.

As McLaren works to debrief and learn from the collision, the team will look to maintain its unity and competitiveness heading into the next race weekend.

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