Verstappen Warns Piastri Against Sacrificing Championship for Norris

Max Verstappen has issued a stern warning to Oscar Piastri, stating that if he sacrifices his championship aspirations to assist McLaren teammate Lando Norris's title bid, he would effectively 'label himself a number two driver.' With two rounds remaining, Norris currently holds a 24-point lead over both Verstappen and Piastri as the season heads into a Sprint weekend in Qatar.

Why it matters:

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The details:

• Earlier on Thursday, Piastri confirmed that McLaren had 'briefly discussed' the possibility of him supporting Norris, but he made it clear he was unwilling to do so.
• McLaren team boss Andrea Stella reiterated in a Q&A that the team had no plans for team orders in Qatar.
• Norris also stated he doesn't expect assistance from Piastri as long as his teammate still has a mathematical chance of winning the title.
• Verstappen lauded McLaren's approach of allowing their drivers to race freely, emphasizing that he would 'not have rocked up' if told to sacrifice his race.
• "If you're a real winner and a racer, as a driver, then you go for it – even if you are behind," Verstappen asserted. "Otherwise, you can easily just label yourself as a number two driver, which I think he doesn't want to be."
• Verstappen, who is level on points with Piastri, hopes for a 'great battle until the end' between the McLaren drivers.

Between the lines:

Verstappen's comments highlight the fierce competitive spirit inherent in top F1 drivers. His experience in intense title battles, particularly his maiden triumph against Lewis Hamilton in 2021, gives weight to his advice. Despite being 104 points behind Piastri after the Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen's recent streak of eight consecutive podiums, including four victories, has reignited his hopes for a fifth consecutive title.

What's next:

The Qatar Grand Prix Sprint weekend will be critical in shaping the championship narrative. While McLaren maintains its stance on allowing both drivers to race, the pressure of the title fight could test this policy. Verstappen acknowledges that while his experience helps, ultimately, a fast car and 'a bit of luck' are essential for his comeback bid. He anticipates needing 'a little help' for everything to go 'really well' to close the gap to Norris, even if the McLaren drivers finish P2 and P3.

The F1 season's final triple-header continues, and all eyes will be on how Piastri navigates the delicate balance between team loyalty and personal ambition, especially with a direct warning from a four-time world champion like Verstappen.