McLaren facing 'key question' over Italian GP team order call

Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer has stated McLaren is heading towards a “key question” in the ongoing F1 title battle after implementing team orders at the Italian Grand Prix.

Following a slow pit stop for Lando Norris, team-mate Oscar Piastri was instructed to hand back second place to his championship rival.

Piastri complied despite initial hesitations, allowing Norris to slightly eat into Piastri's championship margin.

Both drivers dismissed the significance of the call after the race, however, Palmer stated McLaren could find itself in a difficult situation going forward if a similar situation arises while the pair are competing for the race victory.

“This seemed a rushed bid to keep things fair, when they inherently can’t be in motor racing,” Palmer wrote in his column for F1.com. 

“Things go wrong from time to time, as seen by Norris’ DNF in Zandvoort – and you can’t always fix it to make it right.

“So when should a team interfere and when is it just plain bad luck? That is going to be a key question now, and something that McLaren may well have to answer again having made the call this time round.

“What would have happened if they were one and two? Would they still have asked Oscar to give up the win – and would he have done it?

“What happens if a similar thing happens in Abu Dhabi? Would either driver give up a position then if it counts? And should they? 

“And that’s why it doesn’t sit quite right with me after the battles the drivers and engineers have had this year, to have the outcome of this race clinically decided by the pit wall.”

Palmer was adamant Norris deserved to finish ahead of Piastri on pure performance, but the 34-year-old highlighted it was an awkward position for Norris to find himself in.

With just eight rounds remaining in the season, Palmer asserted there is no guarantee team orders will be complied with in the dying stages of the year with the title on the line.

“There’s no denying that Lando deserved the second place in terms of his driving and it’s an awkward situation for him as well,” he said.

“As a driver you never want to benefit from team orders – you’d rather just win cleanly on track, and perhaps that acknowledgement is why Oscar graciously accepted his position in third.

“The team generally seemed to be harmonious enough after the race, so maybe all will be okay. 

“McLaren must surely be hoping things get more straightforward from here on out though, otherwise their could be some more uncomfortable decisions to make – and it’s tough to see how they can keep everybody happy when there’s a title at stake in the end.”