Oscar Piastri admits he did something vs Lando Norris that ‘wasn’t appropriate’, McLaren mechanic was stunned

McLaren’s management of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri dominates season seven, episode six of Drive to Survive. Zak Brown tried to maintain a policy of ‘two number ones’.

McLaren ultimately won the constructors’ championship for the first time since 1998. Brown and Andrea Stella would argue that vindicated their approach.

But they could perhaps have put Max Verstappen under more pressure in the drivers’ standings with a clearer hierarchy. Norris lost seven points when he was ordered to return the lead to Piastri in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

McLaren felt this was the fairest outcome – Piastri had dominated the race before Norris’ defensive undercut – but Christian Horner says Verstappen never would have swapped. It took until Azerbaijan for the team to start prioritising Norris.

In the end, Piastri wasn’t seriously compromised. He had to give up a Sprint win at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, but that only cost him one point, and Norris returned the favour in Qatar.

Piastri also had to let Norris past in the main race in Brazil, and slow down in Austin after the Englishman received a five-second penalty. The final gap between the two drivers was 82 points.

Oscar Piastri shares regret over Lando Norris Monza move in Drive to Survive

Lewis Hamilton has mocked Norris for struggling at the start, and the Italian Grand Prix was one such instance. He started on pole position, with Piastri joining him on the front row.

Norris covered off the threat into the first chicane, but he was surprised to see Piastri fly around the outside at turn four. The brave move forced car number four to take evasive action, opening the door for eventual winner Charles Leclerc.

Piastri’s overtake was clean, but it hurt the team overall. Having relinquished their qualifying one-two, they could no longer control the race.

Netflix captured the incredulous reaction of one McLaren mechanic, who said: “What the f—, mate? What are you doing?”

Speaking to the team afterwards, Piastri hinted that he’d do things differently if given the chance.

“It probably wasn’t appropriate to take a big move on my teammate,” he said.

Pierre Gasly’s unfair criticism of McLaren star Oscar Piastri on Drive to Survive

There is some disagreement in the paddock over Piastri’s level. But Red Bull seem to be keen admirers of the 23-year-old.

In a recent interview, Helmut Marko said Piastri is just as good as Norris, and faster on his day. But one F1 star, interviewed on Drive to Survive, played down his role in McLaren’s success.

When Leclerc marvelled at their progress, Gasly only credited Norris. That seems unfair given that Piastri scored nine of their 21 podiums.

The consensus after testing is that McLaren have the fastest car. It’s feasible, then, that Brown will oversee an intra-team battle for F1’s biggest prize, which would be a career-defining test.