Linking Contracts to Team Success: A Proposal for McLaren's Norris and Piastri
After a collision between McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the Singapore Sprint, former team boss Otmar Szafnauer suggests linking their contracts to McLaren's championship position. This could help prevent future incidents by aligning personal gains with team success.
When Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri tangled in the closing stages of the Singapore Sprint, it wasn't just a minor hiccup for McLaren. While Norris managed to finish in eighth place, Piastri was less fortunate, exiting the race early. The incident has sparked a debate over how McLaren should handle such intra-team clashes, with former Aston Martin and Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer offering a novel solution.
Szafnauer, speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast, suggested that McLaren could tie the contracts of Norris and Piastri to the team's championship standing. This approach, he argues, might deter drivers from risky maneuvers that do little to advance the team's overall goals. "You just have to reiterate the fact that they're not in a championship fight," Szafnauer said, emphasizing the importance of securing third place in the Constructors' Championship.
The collision was labeled "unacceptable" by McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella, and "unnecessary" by CEO Zak Brown. However, Szafnauer believes that contractual incentives could make drivers think twice before making similar moves in the future. "So I think, in those contracts, you've got to link that championship position to a nice bonus in both drivers’ contracts," he suggested.
Rob Smedley, former Ferrari engineer and ex-Williams head of vehicle performance, supported this view, highlighting the financial implications of finishing third versus fourth in the championship. Szafnauer added that aligning drivers' bonuses more with the team's success than individual points might curb risky behavior. "It’s more about where the team finishes, because that’s what drives your income from Formula 1," he explained.
Despite the clash, McLaren holds onto third place in the Constructors' standings. However, Red Bull, riding high on consecutive Grand Prix wins by Max Verstappen, is now just seven points behind. It seems the battle for third could be as fierce as the one for first, and Szafnauer's contract suggestion might just provide the strategic edge McLaren needs.