US Grand Prix: McLaren blames rivals for Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris’ collision in the sprint race

McLaren Formula 1 Team Principal Andrea Stella said: “The reaction is that we are disappointed that we did not have the opportunity to participate in the race.

“It’s surprising that some very experienced drivers don’t act wisely. Go into the first turn, make sure not to hurt the rivals and keep going.”

McLaren pointed out that Stella was referring to both Hulkenberg and Alonso.

However, 1996 world champion Damon Hill, commenting for BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, said he believed Piastri did not show enough awareness of the dangers of Turn 1 of an F1 race when he chose to back down the inside to try to pass Norris.

The Australian had a better start than the Briton and initially challenged from the outside on the upward entry into the corner.

But then he went back in and tried to run Norris on the exit, but collided with Hulkenberg

“It’s not ideal but I didn’t see what happened,” Piastri said. “I tried to cut Lando down and we were very far from the top and then I had a hit and it sent me into Lando. It’s a shame.”

Norris said: “I just got beaten up, didn’t I? I didn’t do anything wrong. Other things happened in the past and I wasn’t lucky and got beat up because of that. I don’t know. I need to look more carefully. More people in the past have been just a little careless, and we’re a result of that.”

Asked by Sky Sport Italia whether he expected repercussions for Piastri over the incident, Norris repeatedly said: “Oscar was beaten,” adding: “It can’t be his fault.”

“At one point I thought I was in the right place on the inside, but some cars came very quickly from the outside and went back and then I was there in the middle,” Alonso said.

“Big disappointment. All the good work I did yesterday is in the trash. Just a mess,” said Hulkenberg, who qualified fourth for the season.

“Oscar flipped hard trying to get into and out of the first corner, but I can’t hide.

“I was attacked by Fernando from the inside and I couldn’t see him anymore. I wanted to make space for him and then Oscar came in and the contact was inevitable.”