McLaren driver 'SURPRISED' by controversial team orders

McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri — Photo: © LAT Images

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McLaren driver 'SURPRISED' by controversial team orders

McLaren have been forced to intervene in their drivers' battles recently

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Thursday 12 October 2023 10:57

Oscar Piastri has revealed that he was 'surprised' by McLaren's decision to stop he and Lando Norris from fighting in the latter stages of the Qatar Grand Prix.

The pair were sat in second and third after the final round of pit stops, with Norris around two seconds behind his team-mate.

The Brit was told on the radio to 'hold position' and not go fighting Piastri, with McLaren wanting to bring home what was their second double-podium finish in a row.

Norris took exception to this, asking his team, "why do you want to do that?"

With eventual winner Max Verstappen not too far down the road, Norris felt like if he had the pace to get past his team-mate and go in search of a race win, he should go for it.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have enjoyed a stellar first season together at McLaren

Lando Norris wasn't too impressed with McLaren's team orders in Qatar

Both drivers will be hoping to one day catch and pass Max Verstappen, who clinched his third world title in Qatar

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As it happened, Piastri had enough to keep Norris behind him, whilst the Brit somewhat mellowed to his team's orders, and the pair took home yet another excellent result for McLaren.

“I was a bit surprised," Piastri said after the race. "I would have accepted either way, but clearly there were a lot of concerns about tyres, track limits and more.

"I think getting second and third place for the team was the most important thing .”

McLaren a victim of their own success?

McLaren have stumbled across what is arguably now the most envied driver lineup on the Formula 1 grid.

Both Norris and Piastri have been touted as future world champions and, at just 22 and 23 years old, both of them still have so much room to improve.

However, having two 'number one' drivers comes at a cost, as both will be desperate to outperform the other, particularly now that the team are getting closer to race wins.