David Coulthard left ‘confused’ by McLaren after Oscar Piastri decision during the Australian Grand Prix, ‘too emotional…’

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri drove a nearly perfect race for 56 out of the 57 laps of the Australian Grand Prix.

The early signs this season suggest that McLaren are going to be the team to beat which should generate some thrilling battles between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

McLaren were the fastest team in testing and that was reflected in their qualifying performance for the Australian Grand Prix as they locked out the front row ahead of Max Verstappen.

However, Piastri’s first mistake happened going through the opening corners when he allowed Verstappen to pass him, only to capitalise on a rare mistake from the Dutchman later in the race to reclaim P2.

Piastri’s crucial error occurred when the final downpour started and he followed Norris off the track before getting stuck on the grass just before the pit lane exit.

While he recovered to finish ninth, it leaves him 23 points behind his teammate at this stage of the season.

David Coulthard and Jolyon Palmer were commentating on the race and one moment on lap 33 left them particularly confused.

Piastri was informed on the team radio not to attack Norris which left the pair stunned in their conversation with lead commentator Alex Jacques.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

David Coulthard ‘confused’ by McLaren’s team orders for Oscar Piastri

Coulthard was covering the race for F1 TV and Channel 4 and the trio heard McLaren’s team radio state: “OK Oscar, we’re free to race now, we’re free to race. You know the rules.”

This was after he had closed the gap to within a second at one point but was told to hold off while they were negotiating some lapped traffic.

Coulthard heard the message and said: “Okay, ladies and gentlemen, I’m now a bit confused. This is too emotional for me!”

Palmer replied to Coulthard and said: “It’s a bit of a silly one, isn’t it? It’s a strange one.

“They’re coming around Liam Lawson in the Red Bull that jumps out of the way. So he’s now a lap down.

“So, as and when he’s dropped away, now they say, yeah, go and race, which is what the original plan was.”

Jacques then explained: “Sometimes those messages can be delayed, but McLaren feeling the need to intervene and then allowing them to race, but the gap is no longer three-tenths of a second, it’s now 2.9.”

Palmer replied to Jacques and shared why the Australian suddenly faced a much more difficult task: “And he lost that momentum as well. You’re attacking, you’re attacking, lap after lap, tenth after tenth comes down, you get within DRS range, you apply the pressure.

“Norris is having to look in his mirrors occasionally, and even just extending that gap to outside of the DRS, you take your eye off the ball, you’re trying to get back on it.

“You can do it, but sometimes, you just need that momentum to keep going and he’s lost another bit on this stuff.”

Coulthard confirmed: “Yeah, it’s one of the most difficult parts of the management!” before watching Fernando Alonso crash into the barrier and bring out yet another safety car.

READ MORE: All you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine

How Oscar Piastri reacted to being Christian Horner’s ‘number one’ choice for Red Bull

Piastri is extremely highly rated in the Formula 1 paddock despite his critical error in Australia costing him at least a podium, if not victory.

On the latest season of Drive to Survive, Christian Horner said Piastri was his number-one choice if Red Bull needed to sign another star driver from another team.

That was quickly followed ahead of the first race of the season by Piastri signing a contract extension with McLaren.

His previous deal ran until the end of 2026 meaning his new deal will see him race for McLaren for at least the first two years of the new regulations.

Piastri was understandably gutted by his mistake but showed enough promise to suggest he’s going to be a title contender this year.