Piastri makes way for Norris as Verstappen wins in Italy

Australian moves aside after McLaren's contentious order

- PHILIP DUNCAN

Lando Norris's world championship bid was controversially kept alive by his McLaren team, despite a poor pit stop in the Italian Grand Prix threatening to deal the British driver another title blow.

Norris had been on course to finish as runner-up to winner Max Verstappen at Monza until he dropped behind title rival Oscar Piastri following a slow change of tyres with seven laps remaining.

However, Piastri was ordered by McLaren to move aside for teammate Norris, which the Australian did on the 49th lap of 53 at Monza’s Temple of Speed. Piastri was bitterly disappointed with the decision, saying on the radio: “We said that a slow pit stop was part of racing, so I don’t really get what changed here but I will do it.”

Verstappen, who crossed the line a commanding 19.2 seconds clear of Norris to claim his first triumph since winning at Imola on 18 May, expressed his surprise at McLaren’s move, laughing when he was informed of the swap.

“Just because of a slow pit stop?” he chuckled when told that Norris and Piastri had traded positions, with the former reducing his teammate’s championship advantage from 34 points to 31 heading into the concluding eight rounds.