Source – F1 oversteer
If Oscar Piastri helps Lando Norris win the 2024 Formula One Championship, McLaren believes he will be investing in his own future.
McLaren’s recent Italian Grand Prix performance has sparked much discussion, particularly around team dynamics and how they plan to approach the final stretch of the 2024 Formula 1 season. With Lando Norris now emerging as the closest contender to Max Verstappen in the drivers’ championship, team orders are starting to play a more significant role within the papaya camp. Oscar Piastri, McLaren’s rising star, has been reminded of the importance of the bigger picture—both for the team and his future—by none other than team principal Andrea Stella.
Stella’s message to Piastri was clear: helping Norris in the title fight could serve as an “investment” in his own F1 career. With eight races left in the season, Norris sits 62 points behind Verstappen, and McLaren has rapidly closed the performance gap, consistently fielding the fastest car on the grid as Red Bull continues to struggle. The scene was set for a potential title challenge at Monza, where McLaren locked out the front row, with Norris on pole and Piastri second. However, Piastri’s actions on track caused a stir, as the Australian overtook his teammate on the very first lap, slipping past at Turn 4. This allowed Charles Leclerc to move into second place, while Norris eventually crossed the line in third, with Piastri securing second place and McLaren missing out on what could have been a crucial win for Norris.
While the Italian GP result showcased McLaren’s resurgence and potential, it also raised questions about the team’s approach to securing the drivers’ championship. Max Verstappen, who started seventh, only managed to finish sixth, earning a mere eight points. Had Norris secured the win with the fastest lap, he could have reduced the deficit to Verstappen by 20 points, tightening the title race even further. Instead, he gained only eight, leaving McLaren to contemplate what might have been.
In the aftermath of the race, Andrea Stella was candid about the team’s strategy moving forward, making it clear that Norris would be McLaren’s priority as the 2024 season heads into its final phase. Stella’s reasoning is rooted not only in the immediate goal of winning the championship but also in the longer-term benefits for Oscar Piastri’s career. Speaking to media outlets, Stella explained that should Piastri follow team orders and help Norris in his title chase, it would serve as a crucial “investment” for his own future within the team.
“I think if the things we say [to Oscar] are sensible and according to the principles like fairness, because if you support your teammate in winning the championship, it is a big boost,” Stella explained, hinting at the potential benefits to the whole team should Norris emerge victorious. The Italian was keen to underline that Piastri, now in his second season in Formula 1, has an incredibly bright future ahead of him. But part of that future success could hinge on the support he offers his teammate during this crucial period.
“The future is Oscar, and he needs to make sure that when it is the time to support, the support he will give to the team or to Lando is an investment,” Stella added, emphasizing that Piastri’s actions in the coming races could help solidify McLaren’s position and strengthen his own standing within the team.
Piastri, who has shown great promise since stepping into the F1 spotlight, finds himself in a challenging situation. On one hand, his competitive instincts have been a driving force behind his rapid rise through the motorsport ranks, and Monza provided further proof of his hunger to win. On the other hand, the demands of team orders are an ever-present reality in Formula 1, especially when a world championship is on the line.
The Italian GP provided a moment of insight into McLaren’s racing ethos and how they navigate the complexities of team dynamics. During the race, Piastri’s early overtake on Norris raised eyebrows, not least because it seemed to hinder McLaren’s overall race strategy. While Piastri’s move may have been opportunistic, it allowed Leclerc to slip into second place, ultimately denying Norris a chance to fight for victory. Even if Norris had remained in second, McLaren might not have implemented team orders to allow him to reclaim the lead from Piastri, something that Stella alluded to in his post-race comments.
“I don’t want to be specific, because ultimately, the way you go racing, the conversations and agreements you have with your drivers, they are part of your IP,” Stella said, hinting at the internal discussions that shape McLaren’s racing strategies. While the team has no intention of making their every decision public, Stella was keen to stress the importance of fairness and integrity in their approach.
“We want to be open, we want to be transparent, give everyone some sort of understanding of what is going on, but we want to retain some sort of confidentiality for ourselves,” he added. Stella’s comments suggest that while McLaren is committed to doing everything possible to win both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships, they are equally determined to uphold the principles that have shaped the team’s identity over the years.
The balancing act that McLaren now faces is one of the toughest in Formula 1. On one hand, they have a championship contender in Norris, who has the pace and skill to challenge Verstappen’s dominance. On the other, they have a young, ambitious driver in Piastri, whose hunger for success is palpable. Yet, with the stakes as high as they are, Stella and McLaren are placing their bets on Norris, believing that a title win for him could pay dividends for the entire team, including Piastri.
As the 2024 season reaches its critical final stages, all eyes will be on McLaren to see how they manage the delicate dynamics between their two drivers. Piastri, with his undeniable talent, will undoubtedly have his time in the spotlight, but for now, McLaren’s focus is squarely on Norris and his quest to dethrone Verstappen. Whether Piastri embraces his role in this chapter of the team’s journey as an investment in his future or seeks to challenge Norris remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—McLaren’s path to championship glory will be paved with both opportunity and sacrifice.
