McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown described the first-lap incident that wherein his two automobiles collided and retired from the Dash at the US Grand Prix as “newbie hour driving.”
Oscar Piastri tried to chop again inside teammate Lando Norris on the apex of Flip 1 as they fought behind Max Verstappen, however with Nico Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso on the within the Sauber hit Piastri’s left rear, launching the championship chief into the air and into additional contact with Norris. With each automobiles retiring on the spot, Brown pointed the finger of blame at Hulkenberg for the incident.
“That was horrible, neither of our drivers in charge there,” Brown instructed Sky Sports activities. “Some newbie hour driving from some drivers up there on the entrance worn out our two guys.
“I need to see the replay once more however clearly Nico drove into Oscar, and he had no enterprise being the place he was; he went into his left-rear tire.”
For his half, Norris didn’t immediately identify Hulkenberg for the incident, but in addition felt Piastri was away from blame for the contact that took each out.
“I do not know what I am meant to do in that,” Norris stated. “I simply received hit, proper? I do know I did nothing fallacious. Additional again issues occurred after which I simply received unfortunate and I received hit due to it.
“I do not know, I have to look a bit extra rigorously. It is extra individuals additional again simply being a bit careless and we’re the consequence of that.”
Piastri was additionally cautious about blaming any particular driver within the incident, however felt he was far sufficient away from the apex of the nook to have the ability to try to swap again to the within in opposition to Norris.
“It is clearly not superb, however I really have not seen what occurred but,” Piastri stated. “I attempted to chop again on Lando, we have been each very removed from the apex after which I received successful and clearly despatched me into Lando. So it is a disgrace.”