Max Verstappen believes that McLaren’s Oscar Piastri is “too good” for a wingman role in supporting Lando Norris’ 2024 championship bid.
The Dutchman believes that Piastri deserves to fight on equal footing with his McLaren teammate, insisting he would never have accepted a supportive role in such a situation.
McLaren’s resurgence has been one of the key storylines of the 2024 F1 season. After struggling for many years, the Woking-based team has now emerged as the main threat to Red Bull’s dominance, leading the constructors' standings as the season heads into its final stretch.
Meanwhile, Norris finds himself just 52 points behind Verstappen in the drivers' standings, positioning him as a genuine title contender for the first time in his career.
However, the young Briton’s runner-up spot has decided McLaren to strategically prioritize Norris over Piastri when necessary, an approach that Verstappen perceives as unjust towards the Aussie.
"For me, he's definitely not a [number two driver], and if I was him I would never accept it," Verstappen told Motorsport.com.
"For me, it's easy to talk, of course, because I've been in Formula 1 for 10 years and it's Oscar's second season, so it is always harder to put your foot down.
"But he's just a great F1 driver who doesn't deserve it to give up wins and positions and play second fiddle because he's asked to."
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The situation has sparked a lively debate within the paddock about the dynamics between McLaren’s two drivers.
Piastri, who has been highly impressive in just his second season in Formula 1, has already two wins and multiple podiums while proving himself to be a match for his more experienced teammate on numerous occasions.
©McLaren
Despite McLaren’s decision to prioritize Norris, the British driver has been vocal about his desire to win the championship on merit, rather than relying on team orders that might hinder Piastri’s chances.
"If a driver is doing better than me and performing, I need to do a better job, so I wouldn't want to take that away from someone," Norris explained recently.
"I also don't want to be given a championship. Yes, it would be great to have a championship, and on the short term you feel amazing, but I don't think you'd be proud of that in the long run.
"I want to win it by beating Max, beating my competitors, and proving that I'm the best on track."
Verstappen readily acknowledges McLaren’s momentum and significant progress this season. And the three-time world champion pointed to the combination of Norris and Piastri as one of the best driver pairings on the grid, praising McLaren for how they've structured the team and maximized the talents of both drivers.
As far as the 61-time Grand Prix winner is concerned, McLaren’s driver line-up is a formidable pairing.
“Yes, because they are closely matched and because they are both quick,” Verstappen said.
"McLaren has really put the right people in the right place, people that were already working at the team.
"The people there aren't all new hires, apart from people like [former Red Bull designer] Rob Marshall. But some staff have been given new roles, and you can see how quickly that can have an impact."
McLaren's strategic shift brings a layer of complexity to the championship battle. While Norris fights for the title, the team must navigate a delicate balance between supporting his aspirations and recognizing Piastri's capabilities.
The upcoming races promise a thrilling showdown, not just between Red Bull and McLaren, but also within the Woking-based team itself.
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