Featured Image Credit: F1/Sky Sports
Topics: Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, Fan Reactions, Formula 1, McLaren
Marcus Chan
Topics: Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, Fan Reactions, Formula 1, McLaren
Fans have noticed the difference between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s comments after McLaren’s recent team decision.
After the pair nearly collided during the first lap of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, a lot was made of the fact that McLaren allowed their drivers to race that closely.
Furthermore, the Papaya team have been criticised for not prioritising Norris, who is currently Max Verstappen’s closest challenger.
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Heading into this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Norris is 62 points behind Formula 1 world champion Verstappen.
Earlier in the week, it emerged that McLaren had asked Piastri to back Norris in his bid to hunt down the Dutchman.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said: “We [will] bias our support to Lando but we want to do it without too much compromise on our principles.
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“What we don't want to see any more is a situation like in Monza in which we enter a chicane P1/P2 and we exit P1/P3. Because that is a detriment to the team.
“The team interests comes first and these are the situations that above all we need to fix because eventually, as a matter of fact, the way we entered the race in Monza left the door open this situation.”
On Thursday, both drivers responded to the decision, Piastri said: “It’s still something that we need to speak about a little bit more. For the whole team, we want to avoid that if we can.
“With still a big gap [in the championship], ultimately it’s down to the team to decide if that’s what we want to do and if the call comes, that’s what I will be doing.”
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Norris said: “For sure, it will give me a better chance which is the whole reason for doing it. Not just that, there are a lot of times it will benefit the team, so it's not just a sole benefit for me.
“It's just clarity. I think when you're behind the wheel and racing against people, you want clarity on how things you far you push things, how safe you can be, what are the boundaries?”
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Reacting on social media, one fan said: “You can tell Oscar really doesn’t want to do it.”
Another tweeted: “Lando looks so much happier now.”
A third added: “The difference in responses between the two as expected, Oscar not too happy but Lando looks content.”