Brundle questions if Monza team orders impacted Piastri's title challenge

Martin Brundle has raised a pivotal question in the post-season analysis of McLaren's 2025 title fight: Did the contentious team orders at the Italian Grand Prix derail Oscar Piastri's championship momentum and contribute to Lando Norris ultimately clinching the crown? After building a 34-point lead with a win in Zandvoort, Piastri's season faltered, with a series of errors and misfortunes allowing Norris to surge ahead in the final rounds.

Why it matters:

Team dynamics and driver psychology are often the invisible forces that decide championships. Brundle's analysis probes whether a single, frustrating team decision at Monza had a cascading effect on Piastri's confidence and performance, shifting the title's trajectory. Understanding this potential trigger is crucial for evaluating how McLaren managed its intra-team battle and what lessons can be learned for future seasons where two elite drivers are competing for the ultimate prize.

The details:

• The pivotal moment occurred at Monza. Norris, running second to Piastri, was asked to yield his priority pit stop to help Piastri defend against Charles Leclerc, with a promise he would not be undercut by his teammate.
• Norris agreed, but a slow 5.9-second stop for him compared to Piastri's 1.9-second stop resulted in the undercut happening anyway, putting Piastri ahead.
• McLaren then ordered Piastri to give the position back to Norris, a decision Piastri questioned over team radio, stating, "We said that a slow pit stop was part of racing."
• Following Monza, Piastri's form dipped sharply. He admitted to "overdriving" in Baku, crashing in both qualifying and the race, and suffered a run of poor results including a double DNF in Austin, struggles in Mexico and Brazil, and a disqualification in Las Vegas.
• While he recovered with two second-place finishes in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, he ended the season third, 13 points behind champion Norris. From Zandvoort onwards, Norris outscored Piastri 148 points to 101.

Between the lines:

Brundle's commentary suggests the Monza incident may have been a psychological turning point. While he asserts Piastri should not have let his "head drop," the sequence of uncharacteristic errors that followed implies a loss of rhythm or confidence. The episode also highlights the immense pressure of a tight intra-team fight, where perceived fairness and team support can become as critical as car performance. It underscores the fine line teams must walk when managing two title contenders.

What's next:

The 2025 season will be dissected for how McLaren handled its drivers. For Piastri, the focus will be on building mental resilience to overcome mid-season setbacks. For Norris, it validates his ability to apply relentless pressure and capitalize on opportunities. The question posed by Brundle will linger as a key "what if" moment, a reminder that championships can be won and lost in the mind as much as on the track.