McLaren are considering implementing team orders to help Lando Norris close the gap on Max Verstappen in the Formula 1 world championship.
The Brit finished behind team-mate Oscar Piastri at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday and as a result, lost out on some crucial points due to Verstappen finishing sixth.
His lead at the top now stands at just 62 points with eight races to go, and fears inside Red Bull suggest they may not be able to win another race for a while.
McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari have all taken a step up after three years of dominance from the current constructors’ champions.
And with McLaren in the running to win every race now, Norris will be quietly confident of bridging the required 7.75 points per race to his good friend Verstappen.
Team principal Andrea Stella said: “Max is good even with his tongue, not only on track.
ℹ️ Andrea Stella has made it clear that he encourages his drivers ( Lando Norris here ) to challenge team orders as part of the team’s decision-making protocol: #QATARGP PIC.TWITTER.COM/KMZXC3KLFO
— McLaren News | 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 (@McLarenF1_News) OCTOBER 9, 2023
“He knows the car he is driving at the moment seems to provide him with some challenges, but we need to be better at capitalising on the opportunities that Red Bull seem to offer by not being in their usual possibility of competing for podiums.
“I hope we will be in condition to have these situations frequently in the future.
“We have now to acknowledge that not only the constructors’ championship is possible but – with the performance we have at the moment in the car, and some of the struggle we see with Red Bull – even the drivers’ is definitely possible.
“If we can achieve both, we need to put the team and Lando in position to pursue both championships.
“Both drivers are mathematically in condition to do so but Lando is in the best position from a numbers point of view and we are fighting Max Verstappen.
“So if we want to give support to one driver, we have to pick the one in the best position.”
Papaya family. 🧡#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 PIC.TWITTER.COM/7NHN2JL6AV
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) SEPTEMBER 1, 2024
Norris himself said he would welcome the change, but acknowledged if he was in Piastri’s position it would be a tough one to take.
He added: “I would love it.
“It’s not up to me. It’s tough, because obviously I think, as any driver, you don’t want it. You don’t want things to just be played that way.
“I wouldn’t say we’re running out of time, but time is going away slowly, and I still believe we can do it.
“The best way simply is just to win the race.”
