David Coulthard Questions McLaren's 'Manipulated' Monza Result After Team Orders

David Coulthard believes McLaren "manipulated" the outcome of the Italian Grand Prix by ordering Oscar Piastri to yield his position to Lando Norris. Coulthard, a former McLaren driver, expressed his discomfort with the team's decision.

Why it matters:

The incident at Monza reignited debates surrounding team orders in Formula 1, especially when a driver's pit stop error led to the strategic intervention. It raises questions about the balance between fair racing and team championship priorities.

The details:

• Race Scenario: Norris and Piastri were running second and third, respectively, during the Monza race.
• Pit Stop Drama: Piastri made a clean pit stop. However, Norris's subsequent pit stop was delayed by four seconds due to a wheel nut issue, causing him to rejoin the track behind Piastri.
• Team Order Issued: McLaren instructed Piastri to let Norris pass for "team reasons." Piastri initially questioned the order, reminding the team that slow pit stops are "part of racing," but ultimately complied.
• Coulthard's View: Coulthard acknowledged McLaren's right to issue team orders to prioritize the Constructors' Championship. However, he emphasized that a pit stop error is a part of racing and found the act of forcing Piastri to concede the position to be a "manipulation" of the result, which made him "uncomfortable."

The big picture:

McLaren's primary goal is to win the Constructors' Championship. While team orders are permitted within F1 rules, this particular instance, coming after Norris's pit stop issue, has sparked discussion among fans and pundits about the integrity of on-track competition versus strategic team objectives.