F1 champion criticises Norris over ‘howler of a mistake’

Nigel Mansell does not believe McLaren should have enacted team orders earlier in the season, pointing to a "howler of a mistake" by Lando Norris to underline his point.

The 1992 F1 drivers' champion argued it was not a team error to ensure parity between Norris and Oscar Piastri for as long as it did, praising what he feels has been a "stunning job" by the Woking-based outfit.

McLaren has come under scrutiny over the course of the year, with the papaya squad being judged to have left points on the table - particularly in the drivers' title fight - as the championship races against Max Verstappen and Red Bull have intensified.

However, Mansell does not see it that way, highlighting that both the McLaren team-mates have made their own errors.

In doing so, the 71-year-old zeroed in on Norris' controversial clash with Verstappen in the Austrian Grand Prix, stating to Top Offshore Sportsbooks that "you can’t overtake a several-time world champion on the outside. And that race was his [Norris'] to win, and he could be 25 points even closer now".

When asked directly if McLaren made a mistake not prioritising Norris over Piastri earlier in the season, Mansell replied: “No, not really, because both drivers early on in the season made mistakes.

"The howler of a mistake in Austria that Lando made was basically 25, 26 points, so you can argue all sorts of different things.

"I think McLaren has acted incredibly professionally for both drivers. They’ve done a stunning job for them and they’re to be congratulated.”

Norris needs to 'step up'

There have been team orders flash points on multiple occasions, namely at the Hungarian Grand Prix, when McLaren seemed to have to plead with Norris to return the lead to his team-mate, and at the Italian Grand Prix, when papaya rules engulfed the F1 paddock.

That means Norris trails Verstappen by 52 points in the drivers' standings, when the deficit could have been far smaller.

Despite this, Mansell maintains the team has handled the situation well, lauding the fact it has "come and shared its view on what’s going to happen for the rest of the year".

To Mansell, the onus is on Norris to take his fate into his own hands, something the British driver himself has spoken to.

"I think it’s up to Lando to step up because he’s got to be at least as quick, if not quicker than Oscar and get the job done," Mansell added.

"And like Lando said himself, he’d like to do it on his own merit."