Piastri has his say on when McLaren will use team orders to aid Norris
F1 News
As the 2024 Formula 1 season enters its final nine races of the season, the stakes are at the highest level. Lando Norris managed to close the gap to Max Verstappen in the drivers' standings after his win at the Dutch Grand Prix, and the gap between McLaren and Red Bull in the constructors' standings is now just 30 points. while the papaya-coloured team will be vying for that constructors' title, the potential to help Norris win the drivers' title will be on the mind of many people, including Oscar Piastri.
116 points separate Verstappen and Piastri in the standings, and there have been some comments from team principal Andrea Stella saying that team orders may be used a little bit later in the season to help Norris close the 70-point gap, although the Italian team boss said it is too early for them to be implemented right now.
Piastri "going for wins" as the gap between Verstappen and Norris is "very big"
The Australian became a Grand Prix winner at the Hungarian Grand Prix, but that was a race that was marred with poor use of team orders by McLaren, allowing teammate Norris to take the lead in the pits and then almost not give the place back to Piastri despite being informed to do so.
Speaking at the Italian Grand Prix to media which included GPblog, Piastri was not too keen on the potential of team orders being used later on in the season: "I'm still going into the weekend trying to win the races. We are still behind in the Constructors' Championship, and we want to make sure that we win that, and my best contribution to that is by trying to win the race."
"I think the gap is still very big between Lando and Max, and even myself," continued the Australian. "It's even bigger than Max, but it's not impossible. We will take it on a case-by-case basis and every weekend. Of course, if the gap gets significantly smaller and I'm not so much in the picture, then I'm aware that I could be called upon to try and help out."
The 23-year-old admits that he will try and help Norris out when the time is right, but he does not think that time is now: "I think with the gap, how it is at the moment, it's still very, very early for that. Ultimately, I want to go out and win races as well. But I know that if I do get called upon, then I'll be happy to help out.