Norris Takes Full Responsibility
Lando Norris immediately accepted full blame for his collision with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri on Lap 67 of the Canadian Grand Prix on June 15, 2025, which ended his race. “All my fault. Sorry. Stupid by me,” Norris radioed as he sat in his damaged car, per Sky Sports. The crash, occurring on the pit straight, saw Norris misjudge a move to overtake Piastri for fourth, hitting Piastri’s rear and crashing into the wall, retiring with front suspension damage. Piastri finished fourth, extending his championship lead to 22 points.
McLaren’s Low-Key Weekend
McLaren’s lackluster performance in Canada set the stage for the crash. Norris labeled Friday practice as the “worst Friday of the year,” with he and Piastri finishing seventh and 14th in FP1, improving to second and sixth in FP2, per Motorsport.com. New suspension tweaks aimed to improve front-end feel, but Norris struggled with consistency, managing only one clean lap. Piastri noted progress but admitted the car wasn’t in its optimal window. Starting third and seventh, McLaren lacked the pace to challenge Mercedes’ George Russell, Max Verstappen, or Kimi Antonelli, ending their eight-race podium streak.
Crash Details
Norris, on fresher tires after a longer stint, closed on Piastri, who was defending fourth from Antonelli’s Mercedes. On Lap 66, Norris overtook at the hairpin, but Piastri retook the position into the chicane. On Lap 67, Norris attempted a risky inside move on the pit straight, misjudging the gap, clipping Piastri’s left-rear tire, and crashing. The FIA stewards issued Norris a five-second time penalty for causing the collision, though it didn’t affect his 18th-place classification, per PlanetF1. Piastri praised Norris’ immediate apology, saying, “It’s in his character to own it,” and downplayed tension, per ESPN.
What’s Next?
McLaren’s Andrea Stella called the crash a “misjudgment” but emphasized no malice, noting Norris’ accountability, per BBC Sport. The team’s “Papaya Rules” allow racing but prohibit contact, and Stella confirmed no change in approach for Austria (June 27-29). Norris’ 22-point deficit to Piastri, with Verstappen 21 points behind, intensifies the title fight. McLaren’s 175-point constructors’ lead over Mercedes remains strong, but they must review set-piece defending (13 goals conceded in 2024/25 Premier League) and car setup. Fans on X are split, with some praising Norris’ honesty and others questioning his judgment. The Austrian Grand Prix offers a chance to regroup.
