Helmut Marko joins Max Verstappen in mocking McLaren order saga

Max Verstappen laughed at McLaren’s decision to swap Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris at Monza — and Helmut Marko admits he shared the amusement.

The world champion was heard chuckling over team radio as he led the race, with Norris handed back second place after losing time in a slow pit stop - a reluctant Piastri ordered to move aside.

"It’s very fair," Red Bull’s motorsport advisor grinned. "They have their own rules, so I guess it’s a good way for them to do it." Germany’s Bild newspaper was harsher, bluntly asking: “Is McLaren too stupid to become world champion?”

Accusations of favouritism towards Norris persist, though McLaren maintains its ‘papaya rules’ are based on fairness. But Dutch broadcaster Olav Mol is sceptical.

"Then publish them!" the Ziggo Sport commentator demanded. "Bring out the rules. They’re the ones creating this chaos. They think they’re being open and honest, but I think 75% of Formula 1 fans are wondering what they’ve been watching."

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff suggested McLaren had set a risky precedent, a claim Norris rejected. "It’s pretty stupid just to assume that kind of thing and say that’s the precedent you set," the Briton told reporters. "We’re not idiots and we have plans for different things."

Others have supported McLaren, including Ferrari legend Jean Alesi. Writing in Corriere della Sera, he argued Piastri acted correctly in following the team’s instructions.

"Many people ask me if I would return the position if I were fighting for the title. The answer is yes, I would do the same. Because I am part of a team that has managed to instil its culture in every member of the team, and this culture brings victories," said the Frenchman.

Wolff, however, stood by his criticism, contrasting McLaren’s dynamic with the fiery Hamilton–Rosberg battles of the past. "Our rules were that they had to race fair and not touch each other," he said.

"Back then, if there was contact, we tried to control it, but in 2016 it might have been better to let them fight freely rather than trying to over-manage.

"We had two very different people in the car, Lewis and Nico. They were two fierce warriors who raced each other ruthlessly. They were very difficult for the team to manage at times. You don’t see that at McLaren now, so that may be a big difference."