Lando Norris has shouldered full blame for a dramatic late-race incident with teammate Oscar Piastri during the closing stages of the Canadian GP.
He brought his own race to an abrupt end and handed McLaren a tense moment between its two drivers.
What happened during the Canadian GP?
With both McLarens running in the top five in the final laps, tension was brewing as Norris began closing on Piastri, who was chasing Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli for a potential podium.
On Lap 66, the battle between the teammates boiled over at the Turn 10 hairpin. Norris attempted a bold dive up the inside but failed to complete the move cleanly. The move resulted in contact on the exit, tearing the front wing from Norris’ car and sending him into the pit wall.
Despite the high-stakes environment and the tight championship fight between the teammates, Norris offered no excuses.
“Yeah, pretty much. Yeah, no one to blame but myself,” he admitted to Sky Sports. “So I apologise to the whole team and to Oscar as well for attempting something probably a bit too silly.”
Norris’ contrition was immediate and unreserved. Over the radio, he had already accepted fault, calling the incident “stupid from me,” and reiterated that view with the media.
“This wasn’t even like, ‘that’s racing.’ It was just… silly from my part,” he reflected. “Glad I didn’t ruin his [Piastri’s] race. And again, apologies to the team.”
Piastri managed to continue without major damage, holding on to secure fourth place at the chequered flag. Meanwhile, Norris’ Canadian GP ended on the spot—frustrating for a driver who had shown solid pace throughout the weekend.
Looking ahead
When asked about the emotional toll and how he plans to reset ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Norris kept it simple: “I go to bed tonight and apologise to everyone and then crack on.”
The clash marks the first significant flashpoint in what has so far been a harmonious partnership between Norris and Piastri, but one that is inevitably growing more competitive as both drivers fight for the top one championship standing.
With McLaren steadily climbing the grid and both drivers showing strong form, internal battles like this are inevitable. As Norris himself acknowledged earlier in the season—and as McLaren boss Zak Brown had echoed—at some point, teammates will race hard. This one, however, wasn’t the right time or place.
With Austria looming, all eyes will be on McLaren. Not just for their continued performance, but to see how the team manages the dynamics between two fast, ambitious drivers. For Norris, the only way forward now is accountability, reflection, and a cleaner fight next time out.
