McLaren Clears Norris After Piastri Claims Blame for Austin Sprint Crash

McLaren has lifted the sanctions placed on Lando Norris following a recent review that indicated Oscar Piastri shares responsibility for their collision during the Austin Sprint. This decision allows both drivers to compete without lingering penalties at the upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix.

Collision Review and Responsibility

Piastri admitted taking “a degree of responsibility” for the first-corner incident at the Circuit of The Americas, where both McLarens were forced to retire. Prior to this, Norris faced minor repercussions for an earlier collision with Piastri in Singapore.

• Event Date: Austin Sprint occurred last Saturday.
• Location: Circuit of The Americas, USA.
• Drivers Involved: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Previous Consequences for Norris

Norris arrived in Austin with unspecified “marginal” consequences after being deemed at fault for a collision during the Singapore race. He expressed concerns that this would affect him for the rest of the season. However, after the Austin incident, where Piastri collided with another driver first, McLaren’s review resulted in both drivers starting with a clean slate.

Implications of the Review

Piastri noted that the review is part of their routine analysis after each race. He emphasized that they are now fully focused on racing and competing without the burden of prior conflicts.

• Piastri’s Current Championship Position: World championship leader.
• Norris’s Points Gap: Trails Piastri by 14 points.

Upcoming Challenges

The Mexico City Grand Prix at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez presents a new opportunity for both drivers, especially as they confront title rival Max Verstappen. Piastri has noted that although Verstappen’s recent performance trajectory has been impressive, their focus remains on their own performance and strategies moving forward.

Looking Ahead

With the pressure of previous penalties behind them, Norris and Piastri aim to deliver strong performances. Their focus will be on maximizing their individual capabilities while maintaining their teamwork. As Piastri stated, “We’re starting this weekend with a clean slate.”