Oscar Piastri has stressed that he and McLaren teammate Lando Norris will always prioritize the team and “do the right thing for each other,” despite the occasional use of team orders throughout the season.
Team orders became a talking point for McLaren as Norris found himself in a battle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for the drivers’ title. As McLaren’s form improved midway through the season, and Red Bull’s began to dip, team orders became a key issue within the team’s strategy.
The subject was particularly highlighted at the Hungarian Grand Prix when Norris allowed Piastri to regain position after a pit stop, as McLaren was concerned about a potential undercut from behind. The issue resurfaced at the Italian Grand Prix, when Piastri made a bold but fair move on Norris into the Roggia chicane, sparking further speculation about the team’s handling of the situation.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella later clarified that the team avoided enforcing team orders too early, preferring instead to maintain morale and trust between the drivers. The relationship between the two remained strong, exemplified by Norris returning the favor to Piastri on the final lap of the Qatar Sprint, a move that helped McLaren secure their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998.
Reflecting on the season, Piastri acknowledged the team orders but downplayed their significance, emphasizing that the team only used them in specific situations. Speaking to Autosport, he said: “I think people have made a much bigger deal out of it than it is.” There hasn’t really been a situation where we’ve actually needed to use team orders, so to speak.”
Piastri continued, explaining that while the team has adjusted a few rules throughout the year, those changes are very specific to certain scenarios. He added, “We know to do the right thing when we need to. And even without these more prescribed team orders, we’ve always worked in terms of doing the right thing for each other.”
Looking ahead to the future, Piastri expressed his desire to be in a position where he and Norris can both compete for the championship, and he emphasized that the team dynamic would remain intact regardless of the stakes. “Next year, I want to be in a position where it’s just me and Lando fighting for the title — that’s our ideal scenario.”
Piastri has also benefited from the guidance of his manager, Mark Webber, who has first-hand experience with heated team order situations during his time at Red Bull alongside Sebastian Vettel. However, Piastri clarified that Webber’s role has been more advisory than directive, noting, “The situation here at McLaren is very different to what Mark experienced in his career. There have been pointers here and there, but Mark’s not leading the team in terms of telling us what to do.”
As Piastri and Norris continue to develop their partnership, both drivers remain focused on achieving success for McLaren, with a shared commitment to doing what’s best for the team.
