McLaren CEO Zak Brown has explained why Oscar Piastri was instructed to “hold position” when closing in on Lando Norris at the Australian Grand Prix. After getting by Max Verstappen on Lap 17, Piastri reeled Norris in with a series of fastest laps.

McLaren secured their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998 a year ago, and the season ended with either Norris or Piastri on the top step of the podium in four of the fin

However, when rain arrived at the track on lap 44, both McLaren cars ran wide in the approach to the penultimate corner. Norris gathered it up and retained the lead, but Piastri was forced to take a wider angle into the corner after going deeper into the run-off.