Rosberg: Key McLaren call Verstappen mocked cannot be made again

17:52, 17 Sep

byNorberto Mujica

Nico Rosberg believes McLaren must refrain from breaking a pre-established agreement again, following the debate sparking team orders at Monza.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Monza @RacePictures

“I do think that there was an agreement on McLaren that pit stop times are part of racing," Rosberg said on Sky Sports' F1 Show. "And that’s what’s made this so difficult.”

“And that makes sense, that a team would say pit stop times are part of racing. It makes sense.”

When confronted with Verstappen's reaction to the team orders by host Simon Lazenby, Rosberg understood the Dutchman perfectly.

“[Verstappen] was laughing about this,” acknowledged Rosberg.

“Because every team will have pit stop times as part of racing because it’s impossible to police that. I mean, no pit stop is ever going to be the same."

Rosberg then posed a question to McLaren, outlining how bizarre the situation could be if it was to be repeated in future ocassions.

“So are you just all day going to be running after, that teammate, his stop was five-tenths slower, that caused him in the end of the race to get overtaken. You know, you cannot!"

Piastri and Norris clear on McLaren's team orders

In the home stretch of the race as Norris and Piastri ran in P2 and P3 respectively, the Australian was called into the pits for fresh rubber.

The following lap it was Norris' turn, but despite McLaren's attempts to to prevent an undercut a faulty wheel nut on his left front resulted in a 5.9 stop, which saw Piastri get ahead of Norris.

Then the call immediatly came from the pitwall to swap places, a call that Piastri would contest, but only once. Upon hearing the instruction a second time, the Australian driver moved over and let his teammate and title rival by.

Both McLaren drivers argued in favour of the team orders, despite the Australian driver's initial questioning of the call via the radio.

Piastri as well as Norris saw it as the right thing to do given the fact the Briton had been the lead McLaren driver all weekend long.