US Grand Prix: McLaren blame rivals for Oscar Piastri-Lando Norris collision in sprint race
McLaren F1 team principal Andrea Stella added: “We are disappointed that we did not have the opportunity to race in response.
“It’s surprising that some experienced drivers don’t use common sense. Go to the first corner, make sure you don’t hurt your rivals and move on.”
McLaren stated that Stella mentioned both Hulkenberg and Alonso.
But commentating on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, 1996 world champion Damon Hill said he thought Piastri did not show enough awareness of the risks of the first corner of the F1 race when he chose to cut to the inside to pass Norris.
The Australian had a better start than the Briton, initially challenging the outside on the uphill entry into the corner.
However, he then turned to the inside to run towards Norris at the exit but collided with Hulkenberg.
Piastri said: “It’s not ideal, but I didn’t see what happened. I tried to cut Lando and we were both too far off the top and then we took a hit and that sent me into Lando. It’s a shame.”
Norris said: “I just got hit, didn’t I? I didn’t do anything wrong. Some things happened further ahead and I was unlucky and that’s why I got hit. I don’t know. I need to look a little harder. Further back there are more people being a bit careless and we are the result of that.”
Asked by Sky Sport Italy whether he expected a reaction to Piastri over the incident, Norris repeatedly said: “Oscar has taken a hit” and added: “It can’t be his fault.”
Alonso said: “At one point I thought I was in the right place on the inside, but some cars came too fast from the outside and they turned around and then I was left in the middle.”
Hulkenberg, who had a season-best fourth finish, said: “Big disappointments. All the good work from yesterday went to waste. Just messy.”
“Oscar came back pretty aggressively and tried to cut off the bottom of Turn One and get to the exit, but I can’t just disappear.
“I was attacked by Fernando from the inside and I couldn’t see him anymore. I wanted to give him space, then Oscar came in and contact was inevitable.”
