Verstappen's Blunt Advice to Piastri on Team Orders: 'F*** Off'

Max Verstappen has offered strong advice to Oscar Piastri regarding McLaren's potential team orders, stating that if he were in Piastri's position, he would tell the team to 'F*** off' rather than support Lando Norris in the championship battle. Verstappen's comments come as he re-enters title contention, now just 24 points behind Norris and level with Piastri after his Las Vegas win and McLaren's double disqualification.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's direct stance highlights the fierce individual ambition inherent in top-tier F1 drivers and the contentious nature of team orders, especially when multiple drivers from the same team are in championship contention. His remarks could empower Piastri to race freely, potentially creating a more thrilling and unpredictable end to the season, while also subtly adding pressure on McLaren's team management.

The details:

• Championship Landscape: With two rounds and a Sprint race remaining, Verstappen is now just 24 points behind Lando Norris. He is also level on points with Oscar Piastri following his victory in Las Vegas and McLaren's subsequent double disqualification due to plank wear.
• McLaren's Stance: Despite mounting pressure to protect their championship lead, McLaren has decided to allow both Piastri and Norris to race freely, a decision Verstappen described as "perfect" for his own title aspirations.
• Verstappen's Opinion on Team Orders: Verstappen vehemently stated he would never accept a team-order scenario if he were Piastri. "If that was said to me I would have not rocked up. I would have told them to ‘F off’," he declared.
• Driver Mentality: He emphasized that a "real winner" should always go for victory, regardless of their position relative to a teammate, and warned against willingly accepting a "number two driver" label.
• Verstappen's Resurgence: His championship bid, which seemed unlikely earlier in the year, has been fueled by a strong post-summer break performance: four wins, two second-place finishes, two third-place finishes, and a Sprint victory. He acknowledged that "certain things" like results, crashes, and disqualifications have also helped his comeback.
• Vegas Disqualification Impact: Verstappen specifically pointed to McLaren's disqualifications in Las Vegas as significant, as it reduced the points gap to Norris, keeping his championship hopes alive.

Looking Ahead:

Verstappen's firm declaration against team orders sets a precedent for how a competitive driver should approach the championship run-in. With McLaren allowing their drivers to race freely, the final two rounds promise intense competition, not just between teams but potentially within McLaren itself.

• Verstappen's 'nothing to lose' mentality suggests he will push aggressively until the very end, aiming for a fifth consecutive drivers' championship.
• The championship outcome hinges on consistency and avoiding costly errors, with every point becoming critical in this tightly contested battle.