- The British racer has been backed by McLaren over team-mate Oscar Piastri
- Lando Norris is currently Max Verstappen’s closest challenger for the title
- Piastri has previously benefited from team orders letting him pass Norris
Lando Norris has been granted the status of quasi-No 1 at McLaren, though he insisted on Thursday night that he doesn’t want to be handed the world title by his team-mate.
The Briton’s championship quest has reached a critical point with him trailing Max Verstappen by 62 points with eight rounds of the championship remaining – carrying 232 points – starting with Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The question of team orders flared up in Monza a fortnight ago, when Norris’s partner Oscar Piastri passed Norris, who had started on pole, on the opening lap. They went from running first and second to second and third, the ‘wrong’ way round. Of the McLaren pair, only Norris can realistically win the title for the resurgent team.
That prospect was overlooked in Hungary in July, when they ordered Norris to make way for Piastri to win. The Australian deserved his maiden victory, but it cost Norris seven potentially crucial points, even before the loss of the three more in Italy.
So what to do? Andrea Stella, McLaren’s methodical team principal, has since issued new instructions. ‘We will bias our support to Lando but we want to do it without too much compromise on our principles,’ Stella told the BBC.
Lando Norris has been granted preferred status as McLaren’s No.1 driver for the remainder of the season
Norris’ championship quest has reached a critical point as he trails Max Verstappen by 62 points with eight rounds of the championship remaining
Andrea Stella (pictured), McLaren’s methodical team principal, has since issued new instructions supporting Norris
‘Team interest always comes first. Sportsmanship is important in the overall way we go racing. And then we want to be fair to both drivers.’
Speaking in Baku on Thursday, Norris said: ‘It’s good. I am thankful. Oscar is still going out and doing his own racing. It could be that there is no time he will need to help me.
‘It is more that I have got Oscar’s help when needs be. But he is still going out with the intent every session of fighting for himself and doing his job.
‘No (he won’t be giving me wins). In general, he will be helping me probably for lower positions. If he has fought for a win, and is deserving of a win, then he deserves to win.
Norris is bidding to chase down Red Bull’s reigning world champion Max Verstappen
McLaren’s second driver Oscar Piastri (pictured) has also been contesting for the world championship title
Norris admitted he is ‘thankful’ to McLaren and Piastri for making the decision to back him
‘We have always worked well as a team. Now there is more of a structure to it and an understanding for certain scenarios.
‘I don’t want to be given a championship. Yes, it would be nice to have a championship and short term it would feel amazing.
But I don’t think you would be proud of that in the long run. That is not how I want to win it. I want to win it by fighting Max, beating Max and my competitors and being the best driver on track.’
Piastri is content with the arrangement, saying he understands the ‘bigger picture’.