Christian Horner suggests McLaren made a mistake with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

Christian Horner admitted he was taken aback by McLaren’s decision to let Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris battle wheel-to-wheel in the closing laps of last weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.



“I think today we had the pace to cover whatever they could throw at us,” he told reporters.



“Obviously they’ve got two drivers who are fighting for a world championship.



“At some point, self-interest will always outweigh team interest, so they did a good job to not make contact.







“It was commendable that they were allowed to race but you could see how close it got.”



The Red Bull team boss said the move highlighted the fine balance teams face between letting drivers race and protecting crucial points.



Many observers feared the orange cars would collide as Norris hunted a way past Piastri after a late-race safety-car restart.



McLaren opted against issuing team orders, hoping Norris could slipstream both his teammate and Max Verstappen in one bold move for the victory.



Championship Rivalry Intensifies



The tactic forced Norris to attempt a daring overtake on his Australian teammate with only five laps remaining.



Although the Briton’s move stuck, it cost enough momentum that Verstappen was able to escape up the road.



The Dutchman’s victory, just his second of a challenging season, trimmed his deficit to Piastri to 18 points heading into Monaco.



Horner suggested the pressure of a title fight could eventually push McLaren to impose stricter controls.



“With two cars in the hunt, managing them will get harder every weekend,” he warned.



“Selfish instincts creep in when a championship is on the line.”



McLaren, however, left Imola celebrating what might have been a disaster avoided.



Team principal Andrea Stella praised both drivers for “exceptional spatial awareness,” noting that neither even locked a wheel in the tense exchange.



Verstappen Regains Momentum



Victory owed much to Verstappen’s lightning getaway and decisive first-lap pass on Piastri.



Once in clean air, the defending champion managed tyre temperatures and resisted the twin McLaren threat through two safety-car restarts.



The result marked a significant turnaround after a turbulent start to 2025 that has seen Verstappen paired with a second teammate in as many months following Liam Lawson’s demotion in favor of Yuki Tsunoda.



He has also faced persistent speculation over dissatisfaction within Red Bull, yet his post-race demeanor was buoyant.



“Wins like this give everyone a lift,” he told Dutch television.



“We’re finding speed, and Monaco is always special.”



Horner echoed that sentiment, arguing the weekend proved the RB21 can still dictate terms when strategies align.



Analysts suggested Verstappen’s early-race bravery was the decisive factor, not outright pace.



Telemetry showed the Dutchman braking later into Tamburello than anyone else on the opening lap, seizing track position that McLaren never fully recovered.



Looking Ahead to Monaco



Norris and Piastri head to the principality brimming with confidence yet conscious of growing internal rivalry.



The tight street layout traditionally punishes intra-team skirmishes, and Stella may find his radio discipline tested if his drivers run nose-to-tail again.



Verstappen, a two-time Monaco winner, enters with momentum and a car that appears more comfortable on softer tyre compounds introduced this season.



Tsunoda, still adapting to life alongside a triple world champion, acknowledged he must raise his game.



“Max is on another level right now,” he confessed.



For Red Bull, stability off the track remains vital with contract rumors continuing to swirl around the paddock.



Horner brushed aside questions about Verstappen’s future once more, insisting, “Our focus is winning races, and everything else will take care of itself.”



With only 18 points separating the top two in the standings, Monaco’s narrow margins could reshape the early-season narrative.



A clean fight in orange and continued resilience in red and blue may yet determine whether 2025 evolves into a multi-team classic or reverts to Verstappen dominance.
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