McLaren suffered massive losses after Monza, and changes are inevitable if the team wants to improve.
After Monza, McLaren didn’t just lose sporting points, it triggered a global debate. The handling of team orders has set the media on fire and divided fans. Now, the central question is simple: should they rewrite the rules to save harmony between Piastri and Norris?
McLaren at the center of controversy after Monza
How did the team order spark such intense criticism?
McLaren asked Oscar Piastri to give up his position to Lando Norris. By doing so, the team thought it was protecting balance between its two drivers. But that decision, made after a botched pit stop for Norris, caused an uproar.
Australian fans were outraged, accusing the team of favoritism. On social media, hashtags related to the incident exploded after McLaren’s Monza decision. Verstappen even mocked what he called a manipulation of results.
Why were international media so harsh to McLaren after Monza?
After the Italian GP, the team dominated headlines worldwide. The Australian press spoke of “betrayal” and pointed to injustice toward Piastri. In the UK, the criticism was even harsher. Some commentators claimed the team had destroyed the very idea of sporting fairness.
Criticism of McLaren’s decision-making skyrocketed after Monza. And it didn’t stop there, because editorialists in Germany and Austria also weighed in. They questioned whether McLaren had just set a dangerous precedent.
What consequences could this choice have for McLaren?
Trust between McLaren drivers Norris and Piastri after Monza
The team now faces an internal fracture. Norris first tried to calm things down and insisted that “the team comes first.” But many saw this as mere justification. Piastri, for his part, complied, yet his icy tone on the radio showed clear disagreement. In the long run, if trust cracks, their rivalry could explode and cost McLaren dearly in the championship.
Can the public still believe in McLaren’s transparency?
After Monza, McLaren tried to defend its decision by invoking the so-called “Papaya Rules,” supposedly meant to ensure fairness. But for many fans, this concept has become an empty shell. Polls conducted in several countries show that 60 to 80% of fans disapprove of the maneuver. For a team that carefully cultivates its image, this rupture with its supporters could have consequences far beyond the track.
What rules should be changed to avoid another scandal?
The team has acknowledged that its internal rules need a reevaluation. But what changes should McLaren make after the Monza fiasco? Team boss Andrea Stella explained that they need to rethink the very definition of “fairness.” Should they compensate for a technical mistake with a team order or let the track decide on its own? These questions, now out in the open, will shape the team’s future.
Following the Italian GP, McLaren must send a strong signal. Drivers need to feel that their talent outweighs questionable strategies. Fans, on the other hand, expect more transparency and fewer arbitrary decisions. If the team can turn this crisis into an opportunity, it may actually strengthen its unity.