McLaren defended over 'psychologically hard' dilemma

Martin Brundle has defended McLaren's approach to team orders, despite the Woking-based team receiving criticism for not prioritising Lando Norris sooner. 

Since Oscar Piastri won the Hungarian Grand Prix, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has faced questions over whether Norris should have been prioritised in his pursuit of the F1 drivers' title.

'Papaya rules' was introduced by the British outfit, although this strategy backfired in Monza when an overtake by Piastri on Norris on the opening lap cost the British driver a potential victory in the Italian Grand Prix.

Amidst Red Bull's difficulties, McLaren started to prioritise Norris, with Piastri receiving instructions in recent races to let the 24-year-old overtake. 

Following Norris' sixth-place finish in the São Paulo Grand Prix, the drivers' title is all but over for the Briton as he sits 62 points adrift with 86 available, a deficit to Max Verstappen which could have been smaller had races at the Hungaroring and Monza been dealt with differently.

Brundle does not see it that way, though, and has shown support for McLaren's approach with Norris and Piastri.

"Lando was very clear," remarked Brundle on Sky Sports News. "[He said] 'I don't want to win a world championship because my team-mate had to keep gifting me stuff here and there'.

"And McLaren know they can't just park a great talent like Oscar Piastri as second in the team and having to yield at every opportunity because it's really hard psychologically to get over that and keep your credibility and reputation intact.

"McLaren have learned a bit this year as well, being front-runners for the first time in a very, very long time, but they certainly haven't hampered Lando.

"They have given Lando every bit of support he needed and the car, which has been very fast."