Oscar Piastri has confirmed he’s ready to play a supporting role for Lando Norris at the upcoming Azerbaijan GP. With just eight races remaining in the season, McLaren has made it clear that team strategy is shifting to help Norris, who is still a contender in the championship. While Piastri is on board with the plan, he’s made it equally clear that his personal goals won’t be forgotten in the process.
“While there is still some degree of movement and flexibility around how much I will assist, depending on the situation in any given race, I’m fundamentally ready to play the supporting role for the remaining eight rounds,” Piastri said. The 22-year-old Aussie, who’s had an impressive rookie season, knows the dynamics of team orders can be complex, but he’s willing to help McLaren push for both team and individual success.
READ MORE: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s RIVALRY increases before Baku
A Balancing Act for Piastri
Agreeing to take on a secondary role in the team wasn’t something that came easily to Piastri. He admits the idea of playing second fiddle to Norris is something he wrestled with. “The team have asked me to help out, and I’ve said for the last few races that if I was asked, then I would,” he stated. “Of course, naturally as a driver, it’s never an easy thing, or simple thing, to agree to. There’s a much bigger picture in play than just myself.
“I’m still coming out here to try and achieve the best results I can and put myself in a good position to just score a lot of points for myself and also the team. I know that if there are some ways of helping the points for Lando, then I’ll do that.”
Piastri and Norris: Baku Expectations
The dynamic between Piastri and Norris has already been tested this season. Fans witnessed the duo go wheel-to-wheel on several occasions, most notably at Monza, where they started at the front of the grid together. Looking ahead to Baku, Piastri admitted that things will likely play out differently if he and Norris find themselves locking out the front row again.
“I think it would be different, yes of course,” Piastri acknowledged. Reflecting on Monza, he noted that their battle wasn’t ideal from a team perspective. “In Monza, coming out of the second chicane in first and third for the team is of course not ideal.” He added that while his move at Monza didn’t cost the team their second and third-place finishes, the race result was also influenced by Ferrari’s bold strategy.
He also stressed that his move at Monza didn’t break any team orders or driver prioritisation agreement. “Some things will be different from now [on], but we’ll just see what kind of race circumstances we’re in first.”
Norris’ Perspective: Clarity and Team Benefits
For Lando, the decision to have Piastri support him is all about maximizing the team’s potential and his own chances in the championship. “For sure it’s giving me a better chance [to challenge Verstappen], which is the whole reasoning for doing it,” Norris explained. With Max Verstappen dominating the season, Norris knows that every little advantage can help in the race for points.
But it’s not just about boosting Norris’ title chances. The McLaren driver was quick to point out that this strategy will benefit the team as a whole. “Not just that – there’s a lot of times it will benefit us as a team also, so it’s not just a sole benefit for me but also from a team point of view.”
“It’s just clarity. I think when you’re behind the wheel and you’re driving and you’re racing against people, you always just want clarity on how far you can push things, how safe you need to be, what are the limits, what are the boundaries, that kind of thing.”
The Bigger Picture for McLaren
As the season approaches its final stages, McLaren is clearly prioritizing a unified approach. The team has enjoyed a strong resurgence in recent races, with both Norris and Piastri delivering standout performances. With eight rounds left, every race becomes more critical in both the driver and constructor standings.
The next few races will be a test of how well this dynamic works, but if Piastri and Norris can find the right balance, McLaren could finish the season on a high note. With both drivers performing at such a high level, it’s clear that McLaren’s future looks bright. All eyes will be on how Piastri and Norris manage their partnership in the heat of competition.
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