**United States Grand Prix Sprint Race: McLaren Woes After First-Corner Collision**
The 2024 United States Grand Prix sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas began with high hopes for McLaren, but those hopes were quickly dashed as both their drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, were involved in a dramatic first-corner collision. The incident not only eliminated both McLaren cars from the race, but also dragged other notable competitors, such as Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, into the chaos. The fallout from this crash sparked debate in the paddock, with McLaren's leadership pointing fingers at rival drivers, while others suggested their own drivers might have contributed to the incident.
**The Incident: A Chain Reaction at Turn One**
As the lights went out, Oscar Piastri had a strong launch, gaining on his teammate Lando Norris as the field charged up the hill towards the circuit’s signature first corner. Piastri, who led Norris in the drivers’ championship by 22 points coming into the weekend, initially challenged on the outside line. Sensing an opportunity, he then cut back sharply to the inside, hoping to get ahead of Norris as they exited the turn.
However, Nico Hulkenberg of Sauber, who had enjoyed a standout qualifying session and started a season-best fourth, was occupying the inside line. At the same time, Fernando Alonso was even further inside, squeezing up the track as the field bunched together. As Piastri made his move towards the apex, he collided with Hulkenberg, who had little room to maneuver with Alonso to his inside. The impact sent Piastri bouncing into Norris, whose car suffered a dramatic wheel-off incident, ending the race for both McLaren drivers on the spot. Alonso, caught between Hulkenberg and the McLarens, was also forced to retire.
**McLaren’s Reaction: Frustration and Blame**
The immediate reaction from McLaren’s management was one of frustration and disappointment, with clear undertones of blame directed at the other drivers involved. Zak Brown, McLaren Racing’s CEO, did not mince words in his post-race interview with Sky Sports. “Some of the driving at the front was amateur hour,” Brown declared. “Clearly Nico [Hulkenberg] drove into Oscar and he had no business being where he was.”
Team Principal Andrea Stella echoed Brown’s sentiments, lamenting the loss of both cars so early in the race. “The reaction is that we are disappointed that we didn't have the possibility to race,” Stella said. “It's surprising that some drivers with a lot of experience don't act with justful prudence. Go to the first corner, make sure you don't damage competitors and carry on.” While Stella did not mention names directly, it was clear from the context that both Hulkenberg and Alonso were being referenced for their roles in the incident.
Both McLaren leaders emphasized that such incidents, especially at the start of a race when the cars are bunched together and positions are up for grabs, require a level of caution and mutual respect that they felt was lacking in this instance. They stressed that their primary focus would now be on repairing the cars and salvaging the rest of the race weekend.
**Drivers’ Perspectives: Who Was to Blame?**
As is often the case in Formula 1, the drivers involved each had a different perspective on what had transpired. Piastri, still processing the events, admitted he had not yet reviewed the footage but described the sequence as “not ideal.” He explained, “I tried to cut back on Lando and we were both very far from the apex and then got a hit and it sent me into Lando. A shame.” Piastri’s comments suggested he saw himself as a victim of circumstances, rather than an instigator.
Norris, meanwhile, felt equally blameless. “I just got hit, right? I did nothing wrong,” he said. “Further back, things happened and I just got unlucky and got hit because of it. I don't know. I need to look a bit more carefully. It's more people further back just being a bit careless and we are the consequence of that.” Norris’s view was that the chaos behind him had spilled forward, resulting in his own misfortune through no fault of his own.
Fernando Alonso, who was also caught up in the melee, offered his own account: “At one point I thought I