McLaren drivers ‘still allowed to race’ each other – Norris

SINGAPORE — Lando Norris has offered an update on McLaren's intra-team orders ahead of the United States Grand Prix, after the reigning World Champion and team mate Oscar Piastri collided at the previous round in Singapore. Lando Norris McLaren United States 'Still allowed to race' – Norris offers update on McLaren's intra-team orders ahead of United States GP Lando Norris is looking to bounce back in the United States Grand Prix after a tough weekend in Singapore. Norris and Piastri collided on the final lap of the Sprint, with Norris ultimately accepting responsibility for the incident despite the stewards deciding it was a racing incident.

Speaking on Thursday's media day in Austin, Norris revealed that both he and Piastri would be able to race each other, but that any repeat collision would not be tolerated. "I got plenty of telling-offs, and plenty of words have been said. But we’re still allowed to race," said Norris.

"But of course, we can’t have what happened last weekend, or what happened here last year [where the pair collided at Turn 1 in the Sprint], happening again. "So, no, we’re still allowed to race, but obviously we can’t have a coming together, and we have to avoid that at every opportunity possible." McLaren have failed to match their form from the summer, where Norris claimed two victories in Hungary and the Netherlands, as well as three pole positions. The Briton believes that despite finding more outright pace, McLaren need to build and design a car that is more drivable when pushed to the limit.

"This was a car in which putting together a Qualifying lap was almost impossible, and being as quick as we were was almost impossible," said Norris. "I mean, I was on pole three times by, I don’t know, two hundredths of a second or something — or not even on pole. So, you know, it wasn’t like we were just winning everything and it was easy.

"The car was probably one of the hardest cars I’ve ever had to drive. But I was putting things together, driving well, and I could get away with it.

"But this isn’t a car you can win a championship with. I still believe a win is possible this year.

We just need a quicker car now if we want to get another win. "But going into next year, we need a car that’s a lot more drivable and easier to drive.

Because, yeah, you cannot win a championship with how difficult the car is to drive at the minute." F1 Store – McLaren Check out the latest McLaren products in the F1 Store.