Lando Norris deliberately surrendered his Qatar Grand Prix Sprint victory to teammate Oscar Piastri, defying McLaren team orders in the process.

Approaching the final corner, Norris slowed and moved inside, allowing Piastri to take the win at the line. This gesture reciprocated Piastri's similar move at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sprint, where he had helped Norris secure victory.

The team had advised against the position swap due to George Russell's proximity behind Piastri, but Norris proceeded with his pre-planned gesture anyway. "I'm not here to win Sprint races, I'm here to win races and a championship," Norris explained, acknowledging the calculated risk.

Norris had only shared his intentions with his race engineer before the race, stating he would attempt the position swap if they found themselves running first and second with a sufficient gap. Despite the team's concerns about Russell's closeness, Norris felt confident in executing the plan.

The gesture highlights McLaren's unique team dynamic, with Norris emphasizing their collaborative approach: "I don't think any other team would do such a thing and help each other as much as we've done this year for one another. It's our strength, and we'll continue to do that."

This exchange demonstrates a remarkable level of teamwork between the McLaren drivers, with both showing willingness to sacrifice individual Sprint race victories for the benefit of their teammate's larger championship aspirations.

Related Articles

Previous Articles