Zak Brown orders McLaren drivers to avoid repeat of Singapore clash

Zak Brown has delivered a blunt warning to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after their collision in the Singapore Grand Prix sprint, insisting the McLaren pair must not repeat the incident as pressure builds in the constructors’ standings.

The team-mates were battling for fourth on the sprint’s final lap when Norris attempted to pass Piastri at Turn 5. Both cars spun, and Piastri retired. Norris recovered to eighth, while stewards took no further action.

Brown told Sky Sports F1 that the drivers had been given a direct instruction not to do it again. He said the collision had brought an unnecessary outcome for McLaren at a time when the team was trying to close on Ferrari and keep Red Bull at bay.

McLaren’s focus is on the team, not assigning blame

Team principal Andrea Stella said discussions with the drivers were continuing, but the priority was not to revisit whether Norris had been alongside Piastri. Instead, he wanted both drivers and the team to consider how they could put McLaren’s interests ahead of individual priorities and become more united.

Norris initially defended his sprint move, but his view had shifted by the end of Sunday’s grand prix. He accepted that he should not have attempted it, said he had let the team down and apologised to its members. Norris also said he needed to think more about the team he represents.

The pair finished the grand prix in fourth and fifth, with Norris ahead of Piastri. The incident and its aftermath add weight to McLaren’s effort to keep both sides of the garage aligned. Brown has also addressed the wider driver-market picture, including Piastri’s links with Red Bull.

Red Bull sits just seven points behind McLaren

McLaren is third in the constructors’ standings on 339 points, 105 behind Ferrari and only seven ahead of Red Bull. The fight between those teams continues at the United States Grand Prix in Austin.

Brown’s warning lands with little margin for error in that battle. McLaren is also pursuing Ferrari, a contest reflected in Brown’s comments on the team’s plans to match Ferrari’s upgrade push. For Norris and Piastri, the immediate message is clear: avoid another intra-team collision and put the team’s outcome first.