Absence of team orders is just fine for McLaren teammates

IMOLA, Italy - McLaren teammates and Formula One championship rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were free to race each other in Sundays Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix and both agreed it was the right decision.

While Australian Piastri started on pole and finished third, Norris took second place after lining up fourth.

When Norris overtook for second place in the closing stages, Piastri did not make it easy as they went wheel to wheel but it was a fair fight.

I was on better tyres, but I didnt expect anything, agreed Norris. It was still a tough fight. It was close into turn one. Its the way it should be, of course.

I lose time through that, and then he loses time, but its what we have to do in order to battle for a championship. If you try and make someone happy, the other ones going to be unhappy, so its the way it is.

I think we handled it well, and it was a good job by the team.

If Max Verstappens victory for Red Bull came as a surprise, it served as another reminder of how quickly the tide can turn in Formula One.

McLaren have won five of seven races and are comfortably ahead of Mercedes in the standings but Red Bull, third, have now won twice.

McLaren need no prompting, having won last years constructors title after a 2023 season dominated by Verstappens Red Bull, but Norris thought it worthwhile pointing out anyway.

What was our biggest strength two weekends ago turned into not being good enough this weekend, so it shows how quickly things can change, the Briton said.

I think were happy otherwise, its still a good team result and thats the main thing.

Piastri could have taken his fourth win in a row