Lando Norris has revealed he was told not to concede the Qatar GP Sprint win to Oscar Piastri after a last-second switch between the McLaren drivers.
Sprint pole-sitter Norris led all laps but slowed after the final turn to let Piastri open in response to the Australian’s relinquishment of the Sprint win in Brazil.
In Sao Paulo, Norris was still battling Max Verstappen for the drivers’ championship.
“It was probably a little closer than I wanted, but I’ve been planning to do it since Brazil,” Norris said.
“This is what I thought was best. It’s probably a little sketchy. The team told me not to do it, but I thought I could get away with it, and we did.
“Honestly, I don’t mind. I’m not here to win the sprint races, I’m here to win the (Grand Prix) races, but it’s not meant to be. But I did everything I could and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.” :
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Lando Norris says McLaren wouldn’t have claimed a 1-2 finish in the Qatar GP sprint if he and Oscar Piastri “were not working as a team”.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said Sky Sports F1“We actually wanted to take the pressure off Lando by saying on the radio that we were happy to finish this order, but Lando found an opportunity to return the favor.
“Once again it shows the cooperation, unity and cohesion that are McLaren’s strength in our quest for the championship.”
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McLaren boss Andrea Stella has said that Lando Norris, when he swaps positions with teammate Oscar Piastre, shows “unity” in the team.
Norris also helped Piastri during the 19-lap sprint, giving his McLaren teammate DRS, which often slowed him down in the final stretch, so that George Russell was unable to make a move on Piastri.
McLaren’s one-two finish puts them 30 points clear of Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship, and a lead of 45 points or more after Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix would secure the title.
“Given that we started first and third and didn’t stay aboard and had an easy race, I was pretty much trying to help Oscar,” Norris added. Sky Sports F1.
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Watch the opening lap of the Qatar Grand Prix sprint
“To come first, to give George dirty air on the inside and let Oscar have cracks on the outside, and that’s exactly what he did.
“It was a perfect start to the race. Then George probably looked a bit faster than us, but I think we worked together as a team.
“That’s the advantage of having two cars against George if we were able to do exactly what we did. A well-run race.
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Watch Lando Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastre win Qatar Grand Prix sprint
“I did my part by giving him DRS and helping him, which makes my life a little more intense, but our plan was one-two and we wouldn’t have finished first and second if we hadn’t worked together as a team.”
Piastre added: “It was a good display of teamwork, something we discussed before the race.
“I guess you could say the favor was returned. Good race, good points. It’s a little tough to hold off George, but a good race for the team.”
Sky Sports F1 live Qatar GP schedule
Sunday December 1
10.55: Second F1 Academy race
12.15: F2 feature race
14.30. Grand Prix Sunday. Qatar GP Rally
16:00 Qatar Grand Prix
18:00. Checkered flag. Qatar GP reaction
19:00: Ted’s notebook
Formula 1’s season-ending triple whammy continues this weekend with the Qatar Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1. Get Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW
