Oscar Piastri declares critics made Lando Norris team orders ‘much bigger deal’
Oscar Piastri was convinced that the team order situation at McLaren over Lando Norris was exaggerated by critics in the paddock.
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Oscar Piastri [L], Lando Norris [R] (image via IMAGO)
McLaren found themselves in contention for the F1 world title in 2024. Lando Norris garnered support of the British team in the battle against Max Verstappen with Oscar Piastri following team orders. Now, the Australian driver has insisted that the situation did not create any tensions between the two.
Zak Brown had backtracked on the ‘Papaya rules’ to ensure Norris can gain an advantage in the title fight. Piastri mentioned that it was more of a catch-22 situation. If the Australian driver had delivered better results, McLaren would not have implemented team orders in the first place.
I mean, it’s a bit of a catch-22. I think if I was better situated, then there wouldn’t be team orders.
Oscar Piastri told Autosport
Nevertheless, Oscar Piastri made it clear that critics tried to blow things out of proportion. The 23-year-old highlighted that there was never really such a situation where this plan had to be implemented by the McLaren pit wall this year.
I think it’s been made a much bigger deal than it has been, you know. There’s not really been any situation so far where we’ve actually needed to use them, so to speak.
Oscar Piastri explained
McLaren’s team orders for ‘very specific scenarios’
Piastri admitted that McLaren’s plans for its drivers has tweaked this year. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri now have more rules to remember when they go racing. However, the Australian insisted that such planning is only for extremely specific scenarios, rather than for every one or two races.
So yes, some things have changed a little bit, and there’s a few more rules or some tweaks to some of the ways we go racing, but again, they’re very, very specific scenarios.
Oscar Piastri noted
McLaren managed to win its first Constructors’ title since 1998 this season courtesy of Norris and Piastri. The two drivers form one of the strongest pairings on the grid. However, it remains to be seen if they will go up against each other for the 2025 Drivers’ championship.
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Armaan Agarwal
(2271 Articles Published)