McLaren enter this weekend’s Azerbaijan GP as firm favourites. The MCL38 is undisputed as the fastest car on the grid, especially since their Zandvoort upgrades. However, McLaren’s poor race execution has been costly. As the team prioritise Lando Norris in the title battle, Oscar Piastri explains that team orders will only be used in specific circumstances.
Piastri: There is still some flexibility with team orders
Despite the growing conversation about team orders at McLaren, they will not always be necessary. After all, there will be plenty of races where Norris and Piastri are fighting for different positions.
In this sense, Andrea Stella’s team will be tested in an operational and strategic capacity on a more regular basis.
However, the Italian GP still triggered an abrupt revision of McLaren’s inter-team approach. This will almost certainly have an impact in the upcoming rounds, although to what extent remains unknown.
When push comes to shove, Norris will be given priority to maximise his chances in the championship.
Still, as Oscar Piastri explains, the papaya pit wall will evaluate each incident separately:
“But it’s not set in stone that I will give up the race, no matter what the circumstances are,” he told Sky Sports.
“There is still some degree of movement and flexibility. Because ultimately, we all agree as a team, [that] if someone has done a clearly better job at the weekend, that still deserves to be rewarded.
“If it’s Lando, then obviously, in my championship position, I won’t be doing that. If it was that way, if my teammate was beating me by 10 seconds, I wouldn’t expect that in return.
“I think we are all very aligned on that, and ultimately, it will be the team’s call.”
McLaren must balance their objectives
As is usually the case when fighting for the F1 Championship, McLaren must navigate a fine line. Giving Norris priority is a fairly logical decision in the context of this year’s title battle.
The Woking team’s advantage over Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes could easily diminish in 2025, making this year an even more golden opportunity to take the crown.
With that said, there is no denying Piastri’s obvious talent and speed. As the Australian continues to improve, there is no reason to suggest he cannot get stronger results in the future.
Because of this, McLaren must ensure they do not alienate Piastri – while still ensuring that Norris is supported as he hunts down Verstappen.
