F1NEWS: Piastri hands Norris ‘no blank cheque’ warning in F1 title

Oscar Piastri has made it clear that while he is willing to support his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the fight for the 2024 Formula 1 drivers’ title, it won’t come at any personal cost. As McLaren continues its push to challenge Max Verstappen and Red Bull for both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships, Piastri has asserted that any team orders to help Norris must be reasonable and balanced with his own objectives.

The issue of team orders came to light after a tense Italian Grand Prix, where Piastri overtook Norris on track, forcing McLaren to intervene with clear instructions. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella confirmed after the race that the team’s focus is on maximizing their chances of beating Verstappen, and therefore they would prioritize Norris, who is currently 52 points behind the Red Bull driver in the drivers’ standings. With six Grands Prix and three sprint races remaining in the season, there are still 180 points on the table, and McLaren sees Norris as the more realistic challenger to Verstappen’s dominance.

Although Norris has emerged as McLaren’s main hope for the championship, Piastri, who secured his first Formula 1 victory in Azerbaijan following a strong performance in Monza, remains in the hunt, albeit as an outside contender. Currently, Piastri trails Verstappen by 94 points, a gap that makes a title bid unlikely but not entirely impossible.

When asked about his stance on team orders, Piastri addressed the situation with caution and diplomacy. Speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, he said: “The team wants to win both championships. If you have the opportunity to do so, you can’t let it pass you by. Nevertheless, I will help Lando in the final races if I am asked. He has the more realistic chance of winning the title. But that’s not a blank cheque. It has to make sense for me to let him by.”

This measured response highlights Piastri’s understanding of McLaren’s team dynamics but also his own ambitions. He is not willing to sacrifice his race results entirely for the sake of his teammate, stressing that any decision to allow Norris through must be beneficial to both drivers and the team as a whole. Piastri’s priority is clear: winning races and contributing to McLaren’s bid for their first constructors’ title since 1998.

The constructors’ championship, which McLaren is leading by 41 points over Red Bull, is a key focus for the entire team. Piastri emphasized that team orders must not jeopardize the bigger picture, explaining that helping Norris without regard for his own race could hinder McLaren’s overall chances in the constructors’ standings.

“We also want to win the constructors’ championship, and sacrificing my race to help Lando won’t help us achieve that goal. We will decide on a case-by-case basis,” Piastri added.

Piastri pointed to McLaren’s successful teamwork earlier in the season as an example of how the team could balance individual and collective goals. Reflecting on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he took the win with crucial support from Norris, Piastri highlighted their cooperation: “Baku showed how we do things at McLaren. If Lando hadn’t stopped Perez after the first pit stop, I might not have won. He has a share in my victory.”

This mutual respect and collaboration within the team has been key to McLaren’s resurgence this season. But as the season nears its conclusion and both championships are still in play, the balance between helping a teammate and pursuing personal success will become increasingly delicate.

With Verstappen still holding a commanding lead, McLaren will need every advantage they can muster to close the gap. Whether Piastri’s support will tilt the scales in Norris’ favor, or whether the young Australian can fight his own way into title contention, remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that McLaren’s push for success in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships will require carefully calculated decisions and teamwork in the final races of the season.