Lando Norris was loudly booed by Ferrari’s Tifosi after finishing second at the Italian Grand Prix, with McLaren’s team orders late in the race drawing anger from fans at Monza.
The Briton secured a podium behind race winner Max Verstappen, but his reception was hostile as Ferrari supporters swarmed the track.
As he walked onto the podium, the jeers rang out.
“Are they cheers?” asked Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft, though the reaction was clearly negative.
Lando Norris was forced to settle for second at the Italian Grand Prix
|REUTERS
The incident stemmed from confusion over McLaren’s pit strategy.
Norris lost time during a slow 5.9-second stop, which allowed team-mate Oscar Piastri to undercut him. Piastri briefly ran ahead, raising hopes that he would secure second place.
However, McLaren issued instructions for Piastri to hand the position back.
The Australian complied but voiced frustration on the radio.
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“A slow pit stop is part of racing,” he said. “I don’t really get what has changed here but I will do it.”
The swap ultimately ensured Norris finished second, while Piastri crossed the line third.
Charles Leclerc came fourth for Ferrari, with Mercedes’ George Russell in fifth.
Verstappen’s victory marked his resurgence in the championship, leaving Norris reflecting on what might have been after retiring with an oil leak in Zandvoort the previous week.
The crowd’s boos appeared to be directed at what many perceived as unfair treatment of Piastri.
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norris getting booed 💀 pic.twitter.com/mA4QCi2xOn
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Some Ferrari fans, already fiercely partisan, seized on the controversy to vent their displeasure at Norris during the podium ceremony.
Reaction online was divided. One fan wrote: “Why? The team f***ed him.”
Another added: “It was not his mistake.”
Others defended the decision, with one posting: “He deserves it,” while another insisted: “Yeah I think that’s fair. He didn’t deserve that position.”
A more sympathetic view read: “Boo the team, not the driver.”
Norris himself remained composed, acknowledging the mixed emotions of the weekend.
His second-place finish keeps him firmly in the title picture, though the incident highlighted the fine margins and tensions within McLaren behind the scenes.
For Piastri, the episode underscored his growing frustration at being asked to defer to his more experienced team-mate. The Australian had been in strong form throughout the weekend and believed his pace merited a clean fight for second.
The Tifosi, famous for their passionate support of Ferrari, are also known for booing rival drivers they feel have benefited unfairly.
Previous podium ceremonies at Monza have witnessed similar reactions directed at non-Ferrari competitors.
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| REUTERSIn this case, Norris was caught in the crossfire of team strategy decisions that left many fans feeling Piastri had been robbed of a deserved result.
The boos may not have been personal, but they illustrated how quickly perceptions can turn in Formula 1 when team orders alter the natural flow of a race.
For McLaren, the focus will now turn to repairing any strains within their garage and ensuring both drivers feel supported as the championship battle continues.