McLaren explain controversial Lando Norris-Oscar Piastri team orders decision

McLaren boss Andrea Stella has explained the decision to implement team orders late in the Italian Grand Prix to aid Lando Norris.

Facing being beaten by Max Verstappen, McLaren elected to run long with both cars in a bid to swap to soft tyres for a late charge.

Piastri, running third was allowed to pit first to protect from Charles Leclerc behind, with Norris stopping next time by, but he suffered a slow pit-stop. 

Championship leader Piastri emerged ahead after Norris's stop, but was instructed to cede position back to Norris after the slow stop.

He was also informed he was free to race Norris after giving back second place, akin to what happened in Hungary last season when Norris undercut Piastri, with the team pleading with Norris to allow Piastri back through.

Here at Monza, Piastri was initially bemused about the order, believing a slow pit-stop "to be part of racing" but followed the request, and finished third to Norris in second, and now enjoys a 31-point lead in the standings. 

Explaining the decision, McLaren team principal Stella told Sky F1: "It was definitely a call from the pit wall.

"It was a call because we not only had the problem at the pit stop, but we also sequenced the pit stops in a way where we definitely wanted to retain the position after the pit stops, but somehow the positions changed. 

"So, we felt that the right thing to do was to go back to the original position and then let them race. 

"I want to thank Oscar, because he didn't make it difficult at all. Once again, Oscar and Lando showed the principles and the values that we have going racing."