In the final moments of the sprint in Qatar, Lando Norris conceded victory to his teammate Oscar Piastri. The British driver reveals that, apart from his own race engineer, no one at McLaren was informed of his plan in advance. Norris’ race engineer, Will Joseph, was not in favor of his driver’s decision. “He told me not to do it,” the McLaren driver shares.
It was a confusing moment at the end of the shortened race at the Lusail International Circuit. Race leader Lando Norris braked hard, allowing teammate Oscar Piastri to cross the finish line first. George Russell, who was hot on the heels of both McLaren drivers, was unable to disrupt their plan. Norris ignored McLaren’s team orders not to let Piastri pass, but the driver now reveals that he had planned to do so before the sprint.
“We didn’t really discuss it,” the Brit explains in the FIA press conference after the sprint. “I didn’t have to do it.” Norris had not widely shared his plan within his McLaren team. “Only my race engineer knew. I told him that if there was a gap, I was going to do it. My engineer then told me not to do it.
Norris Ignores McLaren Instructions: ‘Wanted to Repay Piastri’
The gap to George Russell at the finish line was less than three-tenths, which could have made Norris’s action risky. However, the McLaren driver still stands by his decision. “Oscar helped me in my title fight with Max. And I wanted to repay him today. None of us are happy with winning a sprint, and we’re not too proud to give up a victory. None of the other teams would have done this,” he said.
Piastri Also Surprised
Oscar Piastri also sees his teammate’s gift as an example of the good cooperation within McLaren. The Australian is therefore not surprised that Norris wanted to let him pass, but he was surprised that the Brit managed to do so with Russell in tow.
“I knew it could happen, but I was surprised that, with George less than half a second behind, it actually happened,” the Australian reacts. “It really shows the honesty and teamwork within our team. It doesn’t matter for the points (in the constructors’ championship), and it shows that there are no egos within our team.”
