Oscar Piastri gracefully followed McLaren’s orders, enabling Lando Norris to claim a “charitable” Sprint victory, reinforcing team strategy.
Lando Norris had acknowledged that he was “not proud” of his Sprint win in Brazil, which was handed to him by Oscar Piastri, but Mark Webber, the Australian’s manager, insists that this “charitable” victory is part of the sport.
Norris entered the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend trailing Max Verstappen by 47 points in the championship battle, and by the end of Saturday’s Sprint, he was only 44 points behind.
Piastri secured pole position for the Sprint by just 29 thousandths of a second, and the Australian driver led from the start, even building a gap to Norris before being instructed to help his teammate by using DRS to defend against Charles Leclerc and Verstappen.
However, after Verstappen passed Leclerc and a Virtual Safety Car was deployed for Nico Hulkenberg’s stranded Haas, McLaren decided that the two drivers should swap positions, giving Norris an extra point and the Sprint victory as a result.
“Oscar drove well and deserved to win,” Norris admitted after the Sprint. “I’m not proud of winning a Sprint race – or any race – like this, so I thank Oscar and the team.”
Webber, who manages Piastri’s career, admits it was not an easy decision for the young Australian, but insists it was the right one for the team.
“It’s always tricky to receive a radio call from the team with a directive that puts pressure on you, especially as Oscar was going to find himself within striking distance of Verstappen and Leclerc.”
“Of course, Oscar got to Turn 4, backed off, gave the win to Lando, and tried to maximise his chances of staying in the fight for second place. Clearly, every point counts for him and for McLaren.”
“Oscar showed great sportsmanship in conceding the position, and it also helped them in the championship to get a double podium. It’s also crucial for McLaren to have good harmony and an understanding of the bigger picture.”
“So, the outcome was good for the team and excellent for Lando. The Sprint is still a ‘small race,’ so Lando got a small charitable win, but that’s part of the sport, and Oscar handled the instruction very well.”
- You may like also>Kyalami Could Rejoin F1 Calendar, Coulthard Claims
- Stay informed on the latest Formula 1 updates by following us on Facebook and Twitter
Piastri’s Grace Under Pressure Gives Norris a ‘Gifted’ Victory’ Piastri’s Grace Under Pressure Gives Norris a ‘Gifted’ Victory’
