“We’re still allowed to race” Norris confirms after teammate crash in Singapore

Written by Bo Helmus

Lando Norris collided with his teammate in the Sprint race in Singapore | Credit: Formula One

With Formula One back in the Americas again, it is time for the final stretch of the season. This time last year, the championship battle was in full swing, and tensions rose. This year, the title fight is almost done. Kimi Antonelli will be able to snatch his maiden title on Sunday, if all goes well. 

However, further down in the championship, there are still battles to be fought. McLaren and Red Bull are only seven points apart. Right when the teams need to perform at their best, tensions start to rise. Last week, the two Papaya drivers collided in the Sprint race. 

No team orders

Lando Norris has taken full responsibility for the crash, but it won’t affect the team’s strategy: “I got plenty of telling-offs, and plenty of words have been said. But we’re still allowed to race.” McLaren won’t give out team orders, it seems. 

The McLarens made contact in the final lap of the Sprint race | Credit: Formula One on X

The reigning world champion continues: “But of course, we can’t have what happened last weekend, or what happened here last year, happening again,” referring to the McLaren duo colliding in Turn 1 in the Sprint race in Texas. 

“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.”

Improving drivability

The Brit explains how different it was last year: “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.”

In the heat of the championship battle, the McLarens crashed in the Sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas last year | Credit: Formula One

This year, the situation is very different for McLaren: “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."