McLaren chief slams 'amateur hour' driving after crash

Both McLaren drivers involved in first-lap crash at US Grand Prix Sprint (Illustrative image) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) Getty Images

McLaren's championship campaign suffered a devastating blow when both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri crashed out of the United States Grand Prix Sprint race on the opening lap. Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber collided with Piastri at the first corner, causing the Australian to spin directly into his teammate.

Norris was immediately eliminated due to severe damage to his car. Piastri initially continued but soon reported suspension damage and was forced to retire.

McLaren boss delivers scathing verdict

McLaren chief executive Zak Brown delivered a furious response to the collision, placing full blame on Hulkenberg. "That was terrible," Brown told Sky Sports moments after the crash. "Neither of our drivers were to blame there."

Brown described the incident as "amateur hour driving" and criticised Hulkenberg's positioning. "That was some amateur hour driving from some of the drivers up there at the front and wiped our two guys," he said. "Clearly, Nico drove into Oscar and he had no business being where he was and went into his left-rear tyre."

Championship implications mount

Max Verstappen capitalised on McLaren's misfortune by winning the sprint race and collecting eight valuable championship points. According to BBC and Guardian analysis, Verstappen now trails Piastri by 55 points and Norris by 25 points in the championship standings.

The crash comes during a weekend already focused on McLaren's team management following their recent Singapore incident and "consequences" policy for driver behaviour. The team leads the constructors' championship but cannot afford further setbacks with limited races remaining.

Mirror reports that stewards decided to take no action against any driver for the incident. The collision highlights the ongoing pressure McLaren faces in balancing their championship aspirations while managing both drivers' title ambitions.

Sources used: "Mirror", "BBC", "Guardian" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.