McLaren kept a calm front after a dramatic late-race incident at the Canadian Grand Prix, where teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided. The clash saw Norris crash out just three laps from the end while running in fifth, handing Piastri a fourth-place finish and an increased lead over his teammate in the drivers’ standings.
Norris’s mistake proved costly, as he lost valuable points in a season where every result is pivotal. With this DNF, the gap between him and Piastri in the championship widened to 22 points, while George Russell, who took victory in Montreal from pole position, moved up to fourth in the standings, 62 points behind the championship-leading Piastri.
Immediately after the incident, Norris acknowledged full responsibility over team radio, calling it a “stupid” move. He later reiterated that there was no one to blame but himself, and offered an apology to both the team and Piastri, admitting the maneuver had been over-ambitious.
The McLaren camp tried to downplay the incident publicly, with the team emphasizing that the contact stemmed from misjudgment rather than any malicious intent. While they were clear that they do not condone intra-team collisions, they appreciated Norris’s accountability and suggested the matter would be reviewed calmly.
Piastri, for his part, described the battle with Norris as fair and clean, noting that despite the unfortunate result, there were no hard feelings. He emphasized that both drivers are pushing for the championship and credited the team for continuing to allow open competition between them. He added that he didn’t expect the incident to change that dynamic.
The Montreal circuit, known for its long straights, heavy braking zones, and lack of high-speed corners, proved a challenging layout for McLaren’s car, which has otherwise been one of the most competitive packages on the 2025 grid. Norris’s crash likely cost him a solid fifth-place finish, although it could have been worse, given how close he was to second before the collision.
Norris has shown impressive speed throughout the season but has also been prone to costly mistakes. This isn’t his first error of the campaign, while Piastri, barring a small misstep in Australia’s tricky conditions, has delivered consistently strong results.
As the season progresses, McLaren faces a delicate balancing act supporting two competitive drivers in a title fight while avoiding internal conflict that could derail their momentum. The Canadian GP served as a sharp reminder of the fine margins in Formula 1 and the importance of composure under pressure.
