Norris apologises to McLaren after sprint collision with Piastri

Lando Norris admitted that his attempt to overtake teammate Oscar Piastri on the final lap of the Singapore Grand Prix sprint race was a mistake that cost both drivers. Norris dived inside Piastri at Turn 5, making contact with the Australian’s right-rear tyre, which sent both cars into a spin. Norris fell from fourth to eighth, while Piastri retired.

Team principal Andrea Stella called the incident “not acceptable” and said the team would discuss measures to avoid a repeat.

“I can’t attempt what I did. I should never have attempted it in the first place, even if the move was on. I’ve got to think of the team that I represent more than myself. It was a mistake on my part, and I let down the team. I’ve also apologised to all of them, I owe them all an apology, and I will do better next time,” Norris said.

Norris’ comments marked a shift from his earlier remarks on Saturday, when he defended the move as a legitimate attempt to close a gap.

In the Sunday race, Norris recovered to finish fourth after inheriting the position when Kimi Antonelli made a second pit stop under a virtual safety car. He finished six seconds ahead of Antonelli but 13 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton, who was on worn soft tyres. Norris said the result was the best the team could achieve under the circumstances.

“The result was as good as we could achieve today. I think I could have done a better job and put up a stronger fight with Kimi, but fourth was the best we could do, so I’m happy with the points we earned,” he said.

The incident follows a run of three races without a podium for McLaren, despite Norris’ earlier victories in Hungary and the Netherlands.