Lando Norris has described his collision with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri at the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix as a “painful” moment that prompted difficult but necessary conversations within the team.
The British driver attempted to pass Piastri on the pit straight in the closing stages of the race, but the move backfired, with Norris slamming into the wall after losing his front wing.
Norris sought out his team-mate, who went on to finish fourth, immediately after the race to apologise and took full responsibility for the clash.
Piastri welcomed the gesture, demonstrating that their equal footing within the team can withstand the pressure, even after their first-ever on-track collision.
Although Norris was quick to offer a sincere apology in the aftermath, he admitted he was concerned about how the incident would be received back at the factory.
He faced some difficult conversations with Team Principal Andrea Stella and McLaren CEO Zak Brown, but believes the outcome has ultimately been positive.
“There have been a good amount of talks and a good understanding of everything — from my side and from the team,” Norris explained.
“I made it clear from the first moment that I misjudged it and took the blame. Of course, it was not the most joyful of conversations, but it was one that clearly needed to be had.
“It’s not just about me, it’s about how we perform as a team, and we all know what the number one rule is — and always will be — so there were some very constructive things.
“In an unfortunate but good way, many things have come out stronger than they were before the weekend, which you might not expect, but it’s a good outcome.
“Through these unfortunate circumstances, a lot has been learned, and it’s made us stronger.”
Norris: ‘My team means everything to me’
Piastri now leads the championship by 22 points following Norris’ DNF in Montreal, but nothing seems to have changed in the way McLaren approaches racing between its drivers.
What lingers, though, is the mental burden for Norris.
He admitted it took time to fully process the emotional weight of colliding with his team-mate.
“I had almost forgotten about it until today, but it took me a little time because my team means everything to me,” he said.
“What happened in Montreal — for it to happen with my team-mate — regardless of whether it was with any other car, the fact it was with my team-mate was the most painful part for me because it’s the last thing I would ever want to happen.
“I felt bad for the team and all the people involved. It was a tough couple of days, but something I’ve got better at is dealing with those moments, speaking with Andrea and Zak, and trying to move on as quickly as possible, which is important.”
The 25-year-old has been with McLaren since his rookie F1 season in 2019.
Last year, he helped the Woking-based team claim its first Constructors’ Championship since 1998, solidifying his status as a key figure in McLaren’s history.
Now, his focus is firmly on the next goal: winning the Drivers’ Championship. How this recent setback will affect that pursuit remains to be seen.
READ MORE – Oscar Piastri: No ‘big decisions’ taken at McLaren after Canada F1 clash
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