F1 champion Max Verstappen MOCKS McLaren driver incident

Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri at Monza — Photo: © IMAGO

Italian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen MOCKS McLaren driver incident

McLaren had an awkward incident between their drivers

Originally written by Sam Cook. This version is a translation.

Sunday 7 September 2025 21:00

F1 champion Max Verstappen appeared to mock McLaren over team radio after an embarrassing incident for the team.

McLaren opted to pit championship leader Oscar Piastri before Lando Norris, despite the Brit being the lead driver of the two.

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Norris was then on the receiving end of a slow pit stop, which meant that his championship rival Piastri was able to undercut the Brit and get ahead of him.

McLaren then asked Piastri to swap positions with Norris in order to reinstate the order between them before the pit stops, which Piastri did without too many complaints on team radio.

When Gianpiero Lambiase told race winner Verstappen on team radio about the situation between the two McLaren drivers, the Dutchman laughed at the team, saying: "Haha, just because he had a slow stop?!"

Lambiase then replied: "It’s not our business, but I guess it keeps it fair between the drivers in terms of the championship."

Piastri and Norris too nice?

It means that there are now 32 points between Piastri and Norris heading into the final eight races of the season, with the Australian ahead of the Brit.

Norris' decision to hand Piastri the victory at the 2024 Hungarian GP did not help him in his championship battle in that season against Verstappen.

But this time, it has worked in his favour. Either way, there is a general perception that it is something that Verstappen would not do for his team-mate in the same situation.

Verstappen's laughter at being informed of the driver swap suggests that is very much the case, and that might just be what makes him a four-time world champion.

Max Verstappen McLaren Lando Norris Oscar Piastri Italian Grand Prix