Why McLaren feels Norris’ Canada crash actually helped as it “took the air out of the balloon”

McLaren CEO Zak Brown thinks Lando Norris’ Canadian Grand Prix clash with Oscar Piastri has actually helped his confidence as the two team-mates battle for the Formula 1 world title.

In June’s Montreal race Norris clattered into the back of Piastri in the fight for fourth, his biggest setback so far as he aims to overhaul his Australian team-mate for a drivers’ championship that they are all but certain to dispute between themselves.

Norris had long admitted to being on the backfoot compared to Piastri in qualifying throughout the first half of the season, which prompted efforts both from the driver and the Woking factory to find solutions.

And while he is still not 100% at ease with the 2025 car’s feedback on the limit, the Briton bounced back in the best possible way by winning the Austrian Grand Prix from pole before taking an emotional home win in Silverstone.

His British GP win came with a healthy dose of fortune, as Piastri beat him in qualifying and looked on course to win the race until a 10-second penalty shuffled him behind Norris.

But Brown feels there is a different look about Norris since the Canada clash, which many felt was only a matter of time, and he explained the incident allowed both the team and its drivers to defuse the tension that was building.

“I think Montreal was actually a nice moment for all of us, in hindsight,” Brown told Sky Sports. “It just took the air out of the balloon and we got it over with, and everyone was talking about it.

“I feel like it’s raised everyone’s confidence and comfort; it’s happened, it was a mistake. We’ll see other incidents in the near future, but they’ll be racing mistakes and racing mistakes are going to happen.”

Team principal Andrea Stella dismissed the notion that Piastri’s penalty for erratic braking behind the safety car detracted too much from Norris’ dream win in front of his home crowd.

“Looking at Lando’s enthusiasm and happiness, I think he definitely got the full experience,” he said. “Lando has done his job, he has done it fair and square, no faults at all of his own, he drove very well, he drove fast, he found himself in the lead and he won the British Grand Prix, and I think he should completely and fully enjoy this great experience and this immense joy.

“At the same time, we share a little bit of bitterness that surely Oscar has been experiencing, but Oscar is a very tough guy and he will use this situation as extra motivation for the remainder of the season.”

If Silverstone taught the paddock anything, then it’s that the size of McLaren’s advantage in racing conditions is still enviable on most circuits. Ominously for the competition, the team trialled a fully revamped floor on Friday as a test item that Brown confirmed worked as intended and will be run on both cars at the Belgian GP in two weeks’ time.

With just eight points separating Piastri and Norris, McLaren will face further tests of its resolve to let its two title protagonists race freely, but its dominance may give the pair more breathing room for it.

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Photo by: Erik Junius

“We just keep doing what we’re doing,” Brown said. “Treat them equally, fairly, transparently, good communications. And if we can continue to build a gap, then we want it to be up to them to decide who wins the championship, and may the best man win.

“They’re both very clean drivers, so what’s cool is you don’t feel like one’s going to run one off the track. They’re going to fight hard. Again, mistakes will happen along the way. But I think it’s going to be an epic battle down to the final race.”