Oscar Piastri has confirmed that the approach regarding McLaren team orders has shifted particularly in light of dwindling Lando Norris F1 title hopes ahead of Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Following a disappointing performance at the recent Sao Paulo Grand Prix where Norris fell from pole position to sixth place, his chances of clinching the title have significantly diminished.
This turn of events has led to the relaxation of McLaren team orders, allowing Oscar Piastri to compete on equal terms with Norris for the remainder of the season.
Norris F1 title hopes were dealt a severe blow during the Sao Paulo race where he struggled to maintain his lead against fierce competition, most notably from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Verstappen who started the race in 17th position executed a remarkable comeback to secure victory, extending his championship lead over Norris to an insurmountable 62 points with only three races left in the season.
As a result, Verstappen is on the verge of being crowned champion once again, needing only to maintain a lead of at least 60 points after the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The implications of this shift in relation to the previously established McLaren team orders are profound. With Norris F1 title hopes effectively extinguished, Oscar Piastri is now free to race without the constraints of the team’s strategy that previously dictated his actions on track.
Asked whether the McLaren team orders – dubbed ‘Papaya Rules’ – had been relaxed since Brazil, Piastri told media including Racetrackmasters: “Pretty much, yes.”
“There’s still some, let’s say, very specific scenarios where I might be needed to help out but for the very large majority of situations, it’s back to how it was,” he added. “The drivers’ championship picture is very slim, and the Constructors’ Championship is certainly not over for us.
“It’s certainly not a done deal, so that’s definitely the biggest thing. So it’s a very specific few scenarios that maybe I’ll still help out if that’s what I’m asked to do, but I’m going into the weekend trying to win.”
Earlier in the season, Piastri had willingly ceded a sprint race victory to Norris in Brazil demonstrating his commitment to supporting his teammate’s title bid. However, with that bid now all but over, the Australian driver expressed relief and enthusiasm about returning to an equal footing with Norris.
“To be honest, I wasn’t that disappointed with giving that up,” he said. “Of course, I would have loved to have won the sprint, but it’s a very different scenario to a grand prix.
“I think I proved what I wanted to prove in terms of qualifying on pole and that was just to myself. Even if I had won the sprint, qualifying on pole was probably the more satisfying thing for me.
“I knew I did the right thing in the sprint, and that’s good for me. So yeah, I’m happy that we don’t have to go into those kinds of things as much anymore.”
This decision marks a significant change for McLaren as they navigate the final races of the season. Team orders are often a contentious issue within Formula 1, as they can lead to tension between teammates and affect overall team dynamics.
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In this case, the McLaren team orders aimed to prioritize Norris’s championship challenge at the expense of Piastri’s racing ambitions. However, with the championship landscape altered dramatically following recent races, it became clear that maintaining such an approach was no longer viable.
“Obviously next year, I want to make sure that I’m not in a position, championship-wise, to be subject to that,” he added. “But in reality, I probably needed to help out that one time in Brazil and that’s been it. So it’s been a lot of talk, but not much on-track action.”
Looking ahead to the Las Vegas Grand Prix and beyond, both drivers will have an opportunity to showcase their skills without the added pressure of McLaren team orders influencing their strategies.
This newfound freedom could lead to more aggressive racing and potentially exciting outcomes for fans. For Oscar Piastri, this is an opportunity to solidify his position within the team and demonstrate his capabilities as a driver independent of team dynamics.
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