Nico Rosberg Defends McLaren's Controversial Monza Team Order

Why it matters:

Former F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg has voiced his support for McLaren's contentious team order at the Italian Grand Prix, where Oscar Piastri was instructed to yield position to Lando Norris. The decision, made after Norris's lengthy pit stop, sparked considerable debate, and Rosberg's veteran perspective offers a reasoned defense for the Woking-based outfit's call.

The Details:

During the Italian Grand Prix, Lando Norris encountered a significantly prolonged pit stop, causing him to lose valuable track position. Following this, McLaren's team management requested Oscar Piastri to allow Norris to overtake him. Piastri, though expressing his dissatisfaction over the team radio, ultimately complied with the instruction.

Rosberg, speaking on Sky Sports F1, elaborated on his belief that McLaren's decision was justified:

• Fairness to Norris: He argued that the call was fair to Norris, who had performed well throughout the Monza weekend but was hampered by a team error during his pit stop. Rosberg emphasized that Norris personally did a better job than Piastri over the weekend.
• Championship Excitement: Rosberg expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating his desire for a "super exciting Formula One championship until the very end," suggesting the move helped maintain competitive tension.
• Driver Obligation: While acknowledging the difficulty for Piastri – noting that such a decision would "drive you nuts" – Rosberg stressed that once a team issues such an order, a driver like Piastri has "no choice" but to comply. Disobeying would "look horrible and cause a disaster for him."

Rosberg also noted that historically, pit stop speed is an inherent part of racing, but in this specific scenario, McLaren sought to rectify an internal disadvantage for Norris.

What's Next:

The position swap at Monza resulted in a reduction of Piastri's lead in the drivers' standings. Both McLaren drivers, along with the rest of the F1 grid, will now shift their focus to the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, where Piastri will aim to re-establish his championship advantage.