F1 champion Nico Rosberg claims McLaren's 'DNA' hurting team in Red Bull title fight

Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, Netherlands, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

McLaren

F1 champion claims McLaren's 'DNA' hurting team in Red Bull title fight

McLaren are just eight points behind Red Bull in the F1 constructors' standings

Matthew Hobkinson Lead Editor

F1 Editor & Journalist

Monday 9 September 2024 10:57 Updated: 11:26

Former F1 world champion Nico Rosberg has claimed that it is not in McLaren's 'DNA' to prioritise Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri, something that is hurting their title fight against Red Bull.

McLaren are breathing down Red Bull's neck in the constructors' standings, sitting just eight points behind the reigning champions.

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In the drivers' championship, Norris is 62 points adrift from Verstappen with just eight races remaining.

Zak Brown has refused to name a number 1 driver at the team

Lando Norris is 62 points behind Max Verstappen in the drivers' standings

This means the Brit needs to reduce the deficit by eight points a race to claim his maiden F1 title and deny Verstappen from making it four in as many years.

McLaren have come under fire for failing to put Norris first in his bid to catch Verstappen, most notably in Monza and Hungary this season.

If Norris had been allowed to keep his winning position at the Hungaroring, and had the team ordered Piastri to swap positions last time out at the Italian GP, the 24-year-old would have accrued 10 extra points across the two races.

Rosberg: McLaren DNA costing Norris F1 title

Rosberg believes the team need to get to grips with the predicament they find themselves in if they are to try and win both titles.

Nico Rosberg won the F1 world drivers' championship in 2016

“First of all the situation is totally unexpected to them," he told the Sky Sports F1 podcast.

"Their DNA of going racing has been, 'We go racing with two number ones and both have equal opportunity', and they certainly did not see this situation coming at all.

“They really have to now, it's a big learning process for them and big requirement to think a lot about it and see what the best approach is.

"But it goes against their DNA, because their DNA is two number one drivers, everybody has the same opportunity.”

F1 Red Bull McLaren Lando Norris Oscar Piastri Nico Rosberg