Lando Norris booed on podium after McLaren team orders at Italian Grand Prix

Lando Norris was booed after McLaren ordered his team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri aside as this season’s world championship battle took a controversial twist at Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.

Norris, who finished runner-up to Red Bull’s winner Max Verstappen, backed McLaren’s contentious move to usher Piastri out of the way after the Englishman fell behind him following a slow late pit-stop.

However, Norris was jeered by the Tifosi gathered underneath the podium as he collected his trophy for crossing the line in second, a place ahead of Piastri.

“I heard them, but I don’t know what I am meant do,” Norris said. “The cheers were louder than the boos, and that is the most important thing.”

Norris had been on course to finish a comfortable and deserved runner-up until a faulty front-left wheel gun at his sole pit-stop left him stationary for 5.9 seconds.

Piastri assumed second place and the opportunity to extend his championship lead from 34 points to 37.

However, a week after Norris’ engine failure in Zandvoort saw him leave the Netherlands empty-handed, McLaren called on Piastri to trade positions – a decision that did not sit comfortably with the Australian.

“We said that a slow pit-stop was part of racing, so I don’t really get what changed here,” he said, before adding: “But I will do it.”

On the 49th lap of 53, Piastri allowed Norris through. The swap provoked amusement from Verstappen, who crossed the line 19.2 seconds clear.

“Just because of a slow pit-stop?” he laughed when informed that Norris and Piastri had traded positions. Norris now trails Piastri by 31 points with eight rounds remaining.

Asked if he was worried Piastri would not let him by, Norris replied: “No, because it is what we decided as a team