Lando Norris Slammed by Guenther Steiner for “not a world champion move”

Guenther Steiner Evaluates McLaren’s Intra-Team Collision in Singapore

Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has delivered a blunt assessment of McLaren’s high-stakes collision during the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race, describing the incident between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as a critical lapse in judgment. The intra-team clash unfolded on the final lap of the sprint event while the two papaya-liveried cars were circulating in fourth and fifth positions. Attempting an overtake down the inside of his Australian garage peer, Norris clipped Piastri, pitching both machines into a spin.

The resulting damage ended Piastri’s race on the spot, whereas Norris recovered his car to cross the line in eighth place, securing a solitary championship point. Steiner, known for his candid commentary, did not hold back when reflecting on the maneuver executed by Norris. You really shouldn’t be doing this. This was not a world champion move, Steiner said during an appearance on The Red Flags Podcast.

Andrea Stella’s Leadership and Norris’s Eventual Contrition

Steiner also took time to highlight the leadership of McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, commending the Italian engineer for promptly resolving the internal crisis without lingering friction. Steiner underscored Stella’s direct, no-nonsense approach in addressing Norris immediately following the costly misjudgment on the street circuit.

Andrea in these situations is very good, the former team chief added. I think he made him feel a w***er. He explained to him that this is not happening. I don’t think Norris [apologised] for a political reason. [Norris] came to the conclusion that [it] was actually pretty stupid what he did… There was no need for it, especially the reaction afterwards. 

Analyzing the behavioral aftermath, Steiner noted that the incident prompted a stark reality check for the McLaren driver. Because when you crash into your team-mate… it can happen. But the reaction from him, because that is not Lando. He realised he was a little bit too cocky.

The tone of the discussion shifted significantly as the race weekend progressed. While Norris initially defended his aggressive driving by asserting, it was a big gap, I went for it, I have the right to do that, he adopted a markedly different stance after internal debriefs with McLaren management. Speaking to official media, Norris fully accepted culpability for taking out his teammate.

I can’t attempt what I did, I should never have attempted it in the first place, even if the move was on, Norris told F1.com after the grand prix. I simply have to think more about the team that I represent more than myself. It was a mistake on my part, I let down the team. I’ve also apologised to all of them and I owe them all an apology and we’ll do better next time.

Despite dropping critical points in the Saturday sprint session, McLaren mounted a solid recovery during Sunday’s main event. Norris and Piastri delivered a clean grand prix, crossing the finish line in fourth and fifth places respectively to bag a combined 22 points for the Woking-based outfit.

Why This Matters

Intra-team collisions represent the ultimate failure mode for Formula 1 constructors, where maximizing points for the team championship must always outweigh individual squabbles on the track. For McLaren, maintaining harmony between two highly competitive, front-running drivers like Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri is vital to securing sustained success. Guenther Steiner’s critique highlights the elevated scrutiny Norris faces as a championship-caliber competitor, where impulsive decisions carry far greater consequences. Furthermore, Andrea Stella’s ability to swiftly secure Norris’s accountability demonstrates effective garage governance, ensuring that racing disputes are curtailed before they undermine overall campaign morale.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused the collision between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri?

The incident occurred on the final lap of the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race. While running in fourth and fifth positions, Lando Norris attempted an inside overtaking move on his teammate Oscar Piastri, resulting in contact that spun both cars and ended Piastri’s race.

What were Guenther Steiner’s specific comments regarding the clash?

Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner stated that the incident was not a world champion move and argued that Norris realised he was a little bit too cocky. He also commended team boss Andrea Stella for clearly setting boundaries and de-escalating the conflict.

How did McLaren bounce back in Sunday’s main grand prix?

After yielding only a single point from Norris’s eighth-place sprint result, McLaren rebounded during the full-distance Singapore Grand Prix, where Norris and Piastri finished fourth and fifth to collect 22 points for the squad.