skysports - 9/18/2025 1:42:10 PM - GMT (+2 )

Oscar Piastri says McLaren have clarified "a lot of things" about how after he and Lando Norris go racing in the remainder of their title fight after the controversy around their swap in the Italian Grand Prix.
McLaren's 'papaya rules' of racing conduct between the team-mates were put under scrutiny at the last race when a slow pit stop for Norris, at the time their lead car in second place, dropped him behind Piastri, who had enjoyed a trouble-free service a lap earlier.
The team swiftly instructed Piastri to give the place back, which he did, and the original order was restored behind Red Bull's runaway race winner Max Verstappen with Norris trimming his team-mate's title lead to 31 points.
McLaren boss Andrea Stella said after the race that they would review the situation ahead of Baku and, speaking ahead of F1's return to action at this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Thursday's Drivers' Press Conference, Piastri said they were ready to move on.
"We've had good discussions with the team. It was obviously a highly talked about moment," said Piastri.
"We have clarified a lot of things and we know how we are going to go racing, going forward which is the most important thing.
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"What's happened is done and I'm excited to go racing again."
Staying tight-lipped on what exactly had been discussed and whether anything had changed, Piastri added: "I think we've had a lot of discussions about how we want to go racing and a lot of that is to stay for us because, ultimately, if we give out that information, we will become very easy targets to pick off because everyone knows what we will do.
"That's all very aligned with all of us but stays in-house."
'A pit stop is part of racing' - Piastri clarifies 'other factor' that prompted swapPiastri did, however, clarify one key specific aspect of McLaren's decision making at Monza.
When told over team radio that he had to give the place back to Norris, Piastri had initially questioned the call by saying: "We said a slow pit stop was part of racing, so I don't really get what's changed here."
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Two weeks on and Piastri said it was the fact McLaren had pitted their cars in an unconventional order - with the second rather than first car on the road given the initial stop - which proved the a "contributing factor" than just Norris' slow stop in isolation.
"For Monza, there was another factor outside of the slow pit stop being the order we pitted in," he said.
"That was a contributing factor to why we swapped."
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Asked about his radio comment at the time, Piastri said: "I do still stand by it. That is a decision we've made, that a slow pit stop is a part of racing.
"Obviously, in the car at the time, the context wasn't there about what else had happened in terms of the pit stop sequencing.
"Again, it was decided that there was another factor for the reasoning in swapping. Every situation is going to look a bit different."
More to follow...
Sky Sports F1's Azerbaijan GP schedulePlease use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Friday September 19
6.55am: F2 Practice
9am: Azerbaijan GP Practice One (session starts at 9.30am)*
10.55am: F2 Qualifying
11.40am: Team Principals' Press Conference
12.45pm: Azerbaijan GP Practice Two (session starts at 1pm)*
2.15pm: The F1 Show*
Saturday September 20
9.15am: Azerbaijan GP Practice Three (session starts at 9.30am)
11.10am: F2 Sprint Race
12.15pm: Azerbaijan GP Qualifying build-up
1pm: AZERBAIJAN GP QUALIFYING
3pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook
Sunday September 21
7.55am: F2 Feature Race
10.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Azerbaijan GP build-up*
12pm: THE AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX*
2pm: Chequered Flag: Azerbaijan GP reaction
3pm: Ted's Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 heads to Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
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