Lando Norris is determined to win the world title on merit despite McLaren’s decision to support him with teammate Oscar Piastri if necessary. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella confirmed that the team would prioritize Norris in their quest for both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships this season.
Norris expressed gratitude for the team’s support but emphasized his desire to win the championship through competition. “Yes, it would be great to have a championship, and short term you feel amazing, but I don’t think you’d be proud of that in the long run. It’s not how I want to win a championship,” he stated.
Heading into the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Norris trails championship leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull by 62 points, with a maximum of 232 points up for grabs in the remaining eight races. McLaren is also eight points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ championship, with Ferrari 31 points further back.
Norris wants to win by directly competing against Verstappen and proving himself as the best driver on track. Stella clarified that McLaren has not formally asked Piastri to support Norris under any circumstances, aiming to balance team interests with sportsmanship.
Piastri acknowledged the team’s request for support, noting, “The team have asked me to help out, and I’ve said for the last few races that if I was asked, then I would.” He added, “Of course naturally, as a driver, it’s never an easy thing or a simple thing to agree to. But again, there’s a much bigger picture in play than just myself.”
Both Norris and Piastri downplayed the likelihood of the Australian sacrificing a win for Norris. Norris mentioned that Piastri’s support would be more relevant in lower positions but not if Piastri is fighting for a win. Piastri echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that discussions about support are ongoing and that neither he nor Norris want to race under enforced team orders.
Norris needs to average just under eight points per weekend in the remaining eight races to surpass Verstappen for the title. He has managed this in the last two races in the Netherlands and Italy, but Verstappen remains the top-scoring driver over the last 10 races.
Verstappen, who struggled in Italy with a seventh-place start and a sixth-place finish, has not won in the last six races. Despite this, he leads the season with seven wins. Verstappen acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, “We have analyzed a lot of things and it’s time to try to be better and let’s see how this weekend will go.”
Red Bull’s recent performance in Italy led McLaren to reconsider their driver strategy after Piastri’s overtaking maneuver on Norris allowed Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to win. Leclerc, who has been pole in Baku for the last three years, is expected to be a strong contender this weekend.
Mercedes will revert to an older-specification floor for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a disappointing performance with the new floor introduced in the Dutch Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton commented on the challenge ahead, noting that Verstappen remains significantly ahead in the standings.
