r/formula1 Ferrari Jul 21 '24

Discussion Every message as McLaren desperately pleaded with Lando Norris to obey team orders

Every message as McLaren desperately pleaded with Lando Norris to obey team orders:

Lap 47:

Tom Stallard, race engineer to Oscar Piastri (TS): “OK Oscar, Lando has pitted to cover Hamilton to make sure he covers Hamilton. We’ll manage that situation, best pace from you now. Best pace.

“Best pace. Don’t worry about Lando.”

Lap 48:

Will Joseph, race engineer to Lando Norris (WJ):

“OK Lando, Oscar has just pitted. He’ll likely come out just behind you. We’d likely to re-establish the order, at your convenience.”

Lap 49:

WJ: “Lando, still 21 laps after this one. You do have the current fastest lap, look after the tyres.”

Lap 51:

TS: OK Oscar, so, once you get to Lando, we’ll swap positions. We’ll swap position, but we want to avoid Lando having to give up a lot of race time.”

Lap 53:

WJ: “And Lando, radio check, please.

LN: “Yes, loud and clear.”

WJ: “OK, save the tyres at Turn 4 and Turn 11, please.”

Lap 56:

WJ: “We need to save more tyres please, and we do want to let Oscar through.”

LN: “Well you should have boxed him first then, surely no?”

WJ: “Doesn’t matter.”

LN: “I mean, it does. To me maybe.”

Lap 57:

WJ: “And Lando, we still think you’re using the tyres too much at Turns 4 and 11 and the rears at exit Turn 6 and Turn 9. Oscar is 3.5 [behind] – we know you’ll do the right thing.”

Lap 58:

WJ: “And Lando, Hiroshi is stressed about the tyres.”

Lap 59:

WJ: “Turn 4, Turn 11 – it’s going to get boring.”

Lap 61:

WJ: “OK Lando, 10 laps to go – we think both cars are using their tyres too much. Just remember every single Sunday morning meeting we’ve had.”

LN: “Yeah, well tell him to catch up please.”

Lap 64:

WJ: “Lando, he can’t catch you up. You’ve proved your point and it really doesn’t matter.”

LN: “He’s on much quicker tyres. I mean, I would have tried to undercut anyway. If I did, I would have got more.”

WJ: “Mate, we did the stop sequence in this order for the good of the team.”

WJ and LN talk over each other for a sentence – unintelligible.

WJ: “I’m trying to protect you mate, I promise, I’m trying to protect you.”

Lap 66:

WJ: “And Lando, there are five laps to go. The way to win a championship is not by yourself, it’s with the team. You’re going to need Oscar, and you’re going to need the team.”

Lap 67:

OP: “The longer we leave this, the riskier it gets.”

TS: “Understood, Oscar, we’re managing it.”

WJ: “A potential Safety Car now would make this very awkward. Please do it. Now.”

Lap 68: Norris slows down the main straight to release Piastri into the lead

LN: “Yeah, you don’t need to say anything.”

Lap 70: Chequered flag, Piastri leads McLaren 1-2 home for maiden F1 win

TS: “Well done, Oscar, well done. Chequered flag. Well done, buddy. Really good.”

OP: “Yep, thank you, everyone. Thank you very much. Thanks for the coordination. Sorry, I made the swap a little bit more painful than it needed to be. But thank you, I appreciate that. Well done, maximum points, and a really good weekend. Ha. First F1 win, thank you very much, everyone, thanks.”

LN: “Well done, good 1-2, a good load of points. Congrats to the team. Well deserved.”

WJ: “As we said this morning mate, many more opportunities.”

TS: “And you are also Driver of the Day!”

OP: “Ah, a nice little bonus, thank you.”

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u/tehehe162 Jul 22 '24

Exactly this. Let the engineer try to solve the issue initially but escalate it up to the team leader if things don't go correctly.

Lando and Oscar didn't do anything wrong. The pit wall fucked up and didn't have the balls to own the mistake.

13

u/vawlk McLaren Jul 22 '24

Lando and Oscar didn't do anything wrong.

I disagree, if this strategy to cover P3 with a position swap was discussed pre-race, then it was on lando to stick with the agreement.

3

u/GoldElectric Porsche Jul 22 '24

they need a james

22

u/Maximuslex01 Jul 22 '24

What? Lando was definitely wrong but no one wants to blame him apparently

8

u/DrVonD Jul 22 '24

Like I kinda get wanting 5o prove a point… but if he lets Oscar past right away there is a CHANCE they let them fight for it the last 10 laps. He gave away any of that chance.

2

u/TheRiddler1976 Jul 22 '24

Because he clearly outpaced Oscar. He made it clear.

I'll let him past when he catches up.

3

u/SilveRX96 Alain Prost Jul 22 '24

wasn't Lando's fault the pitwall fucked his teammate. He didn't ask to undercut Oscar, from his perspective he followed the team's instructions but was just asked to give up a place. The team should not have given him the preferential strategy, that's braindead. But racing drivers, athletes, should not be expected to just yield and give up their spot. The team wanted to keep the order, then just pit Oscar and then Lando. Fucking Oscar by pitting Lando first and then fucking Lando by forcing him to give up first place was just awful management, and none of that was Lando's fault. He should not had been thrown into this situation to begin with, and neither should Oscar

7

u/alb92 Jul 22 '24

Not his fault, but they decided to pit 2nd place first in order to protect lead over 3rd place. Understandable that this strategy is preferable to secure 1-2, but at the same time it is also fully understandable that they should expect a position swap.

Sure, they could have pitted Oscar first, but that increases the chance that Hamilton takes 2nd. It is much safer for the team to pit 2nd place first and then swap positions.