What next for McLaren after Hungary team orders controversy?

McLaren has been pretty clear all season that there is a process to go through in learning to win again in Formula 1.

It is a new world fighting at the front, and it often puts you in situations where mistakes are exposed, or things can get pretty uncomfortable when some tough decisions have to be made.

There is a process to go through to become the best, as McLaren CEO Zak Brown readily admits.

“I always tell everyone at the factory, mistakes are okay, just don’t make the same one twice,” he said. “Learn from mistakes, because when you learn from them, you actually get better.”

So as McLaren reflects on its Hungarian GP 1-2, there will be some conflicting thoughts about everything that played out.

On the one hand, a look at the strategy considerations that prompted it to hand Lando Norris the critical undercut which triggered the team orders situation shows exactly why it did the right thing.

Reacting in the way it did, covering off the different threats from Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to its two cars, it minimised the risk of losing track position or being exposed at the end.

But equally, the way things played out between pit wall and drivers was certainly not ideal – and created a situation where the team made life difficult for itself.

And it is a situation where perhaps both drivers may feel that things could have been done better for them.

On the one hand, the way in which Oscar Piastri’s run to a maiden F1 win got overshadowed by it appearing to be gifted was certainly not ideal.

As Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur reflected afterwards: “I can perfectly understand that for Piastri, it’s a bit harsh. He’s leading the race, he’s doing a good job, and your team-mate is doing the undercut on you. It’s a bit harsh.”

The way the radio communication with Norris played out too, as the messages to him became ever more emotional to remind him of his duties, also hinted that perhaps there was not total faith he would see through in the request to let Piastri past.

It also put Norris in a difficult position in having to sacrifice what would have been a certain win.

Racing rules

When it comes to its post-race review of things, McLaren will probably conclude that ultimately it did the right thing but potentially it could have been done in a better way.

Perhaps a more robust action plan agreed in advance, clearer…