Despite mounting pressure in the title fight, Lando Norris has made it clear that his priority is to win the race properly, without the help of teammate Oscar Piastri. On the eve of the Baku Grand Prix, the British driver reiterated his desire to emerge through his own performances and not through team orders. His words reflect a strong sense of sportsmanship and respect towards his teammate.
Norris doesn't want help: "I want to win the right way"
During the meeting with the media, Norris directly addressed the issue of internal competition with Piastri. In particular, he stated:
“I don’t want Oscar to pass me or help me. I want to win the fair way. If Oscar did a better job, I would deserve to be behind. I don’t want to win because of favors or help from my teammate.”
This statement clearly demonstrates his desire not to gain artificial advantages and to prefer a fair competition based exclusively on performance on the track.
Driver management at McLaren: a controversial choice
McLaren has been at the center of several discussions about driver management since the Monza Grand Prix. Many believe that the team should favor Norris, given that he is closer in the title fight, but so far McLaren has opted to leave both drivers free to compete. This approach, while sporting, could complicate Norris's path to the title, as he must deal with both his external rivals and Piastri, within the same team.
The relationship with Piastri and the support of Andrea Stella
Despite the rivalry, Norris praised Oscar Piastri’s work, acknowledging the young Australian’s talent and determination. “The competition between me and Oscar is exciting,” Norris explained. “It pushes us to continually improve and I think that’s a dynamic that will benefit the team as well.” The relationship between the two drivers remains professional and tension-free, with McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledging the balanced management of the competition between his drivers.
Verstappen puts his finger on the wound: "The internal challenge in McLaren could benefit me"
Max Verstappen has observed the situation at McLaren, suggesting that the internal competition between Norris and Piastri could work in their favour. “When you have such a tight competition within a team, you risk losing important points,” Verstappen said. This dynamic could therefore prove to be a weak point for McLaren, with Red Bull ready to exploit any mistakes or points losses by the British team.
McLaren: Freedom of competition or targeted strategy?
McLaren now faces a major choice: continue to let the drivers compete freely or adopt a more targeted strategy that could favor Norris in the title fight. For now, Norris has made it clear that he wants to win fairly, without the help of Piastri. However, the question remains: will this strategy be sustainable in such a competitive season, where every point can make the difference? The first answer could come right in Baku.
Source statements: FormulaPassion
