Lando Norris responds to Oscar Piastri McLaren claim

Lando Norris has agreed with Oscar Piastri's claim that the pair must "protect" McLaren personnel, following the bungled pit stop at the Italian Grand Prix that cost the former track position to the latter.

The team's pit wall swapped the team-mates around in the closing stages at Monza to right its wrong, but the unfortunate episode has instigated a fresh round of scutiny over how the Woking-based squad manages its drivers.

In the aftermath, both Piastri and Norris moved to diminish the magnitude of the team orders that saw the Australian instructed to hand second place back, returning to third at the Temple of Speed in the process.

The 24-year-old was reluctant to agree to the instruction, but ultimately fell in line. After getting out of the cockpit of his MCL39, he voiced his support for the call, but did reiterate his team radio message in the heat of the moment, "says enough." 

Both drivers dismissed the suggestion that a precedent had been set and were keen to explain why it is of paramount importance to put the team first.

After Piastri replied to being asked what it is about McLaren's culture that makes it unique from its rivals in F1, Norris expressed his agreement - and admiration for his team-mate's response.

"That was beautiful," the British driver told media, including RacingNews365, in reaction to Piastri's answer. "He said it well. I don't need to add any more.

"The team is the priority. The team is number one, then the drivers are second. That's how it works.

"Normally, when you see teams who don't have enough respect for the team and the opportunities the team gives, it doesn't normally last long. You see that with plenty of other teams, whether it's been Red Bull, Ferrari, or Mercedes."

Norris explained that the pair want a peak at McLaren that outlasts that of its rivals, which will be no small feat, given Mercedes won eight consecutive constructors' championships.

"We want to try and be in this position for a longer period of time than what they have been at the top," the nine-time grand prix winner added. "Still early days – it's only our second year of fighting for wins.

"But like Oscar said, the team gives us these opportunities. Without the team, then we're just fighting for tenth, and none of us want that. So team and the morale, the spirit of the team, is priority, and we're below that."