Several F1 drivers endorse Norris’s decision to comply with McLaren’s strategic call during the race.
Lando Norris was repeatedly ordered by his team to relinquish a victory at last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix and hand it over to his teammate, Oscar Piastri.
Norris took a long time to agree to give up his position, which the team had facilitated through strategic pit stops to shield him from his pursuers.
Piastri, who had outpaced Norris at the start and controlled the race effortlessly, thus tasted his first F1 victory.
In the Spa paddock, all the drivers questioned this Thursday unanimously agree: Norris did well to heed the instructions. This was the question raised at the FIA press conference a few minutes ago.
“It would certainly have been tempting for Lando to keep his place. It completely depends on the team’s stance and the type of story behind it, I suppose. But here, it was clearly Oscar’s victory,” Kevin Magnussen believes.
Carlos Sainz, Norris’s former teammate at McLaren, would have done the same.
“We weren’t fighting for easy one-twos in my time at McLaren. A team order is a team order, and I think the team always comes first. That’s how I’ve approached my Formula 1 career over these last nine, ten years. Even if it hurts, and it must have hurt to have let Oscar pass, it’s a team order and it made sense.”
Daniel Ricciardo sees this playing in their favor in the long term.
“The advice given to him was good, because in the heat of the moment, you don’t see everything. You see a victory in front of you and that’s it. But they’re talking about championships and winning as a team, we might need Oscar’s help for this and that. That’s the perspective we sometimes need. F1 is a team sport and you need the team’s help. There will be moments when this happens and it will play in his favor (Lando’s).”
Valtteri Bottas has often been on the receiving end during his stint at Mercedes F1 alongside seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Speaking from his experience, Bottas took the opportunity to praise his qualities.
“There are certain rules depending on the situation, but normally, these rules are fair. I would give up the place because I’m an incredible team player,” concludes the Finn, hoping this will resonate with his next team!
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Norris Praised for Obeying Team Order at McLaren Norris Praised for Obeying Team Order at McLaren
