Max Verstappen has warned Oscar Piastri that he can “label himself a number two driver” if he sacrifices his own championship hopes to aid team-mate Lando Norris.
Norris leads both Verstappen and Piastri by 24 points going into the final two rounds of the season, beginning with a Sprint weekend in Qatar on Friday. Piastri said earlier that McLaren had held a “brief discussion” about him helping Norris, but he made clear he was not willing to do so.
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella reiterated in a written Q&A that the team had no plans to implement team orders in Qatar, while Norris said he did not expect assistance from Piastri while his team-mate still has a chance of winning the title.
Asked about McLaren’s approach, the four-time world champion said: “It’s perfect. I think you can’t do a better job than allowing them to race as well, because why would you suddenly now say that Oscar wouldn’t be allowed any more to [race]. I mean, if that was said to me, I would have not rocked [shown] up. I would have told them to f*** off. If you’re a real winner and a racer, as a driver, then you go for it – even if you are behind. I mean what’s the point otherwise in turning up? Otherwise, you can easily just label yourself as a number two driver, which I think he doesn’t want to be. I know that I’m equal on points with Oscar. A lot still needs to go right, but I think it should be like that, that they are free to race, and hopefully we can make it a great battle until the end.”
‘My experience helps in title battle’
Verstappen says his greater experience can help in the title fight. The Dutchman has won the last four world championships but hasn’t had a title battle go to the wire since his 2021 duel with Lewis Hamilton. “I’ll just do it my way,” Verstappen said. “For sure, it (experience) helps a little bit. If I look at myself in 2021 and now, for example, for sure, having the experience helps in terms of how to approach a race week. Even if you say it doesn’t or it shouldn’t help, it does help.”
Verstappen has produced an unlikely comeback after being 104 points off the lead — then held by Piastri — following the Dutch Grand Prix in late August. His second place at his home race began a run of eight successive podiums, including four victories, which have kept alive his hopes of a fifth successive title.
“At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you have a fast car. So we have to make sure that we are faster than them, or at least equal-ish. But with that, we still need a bit of luck. Even if they tense up and finish P2 and P3, it’s still fine (for them). From our side, everything needs to go really well, and then we might need a little help.”
Sky Sports F1’s Qatar GP schedule
Friday November 28
11.05am: F2 Practice
1pm: Qatar GP Practice (session starts at 1.30pm)*
3.30pm: Team Bosses’ Press Conference
4.05pm: F2 Qualifying*
4.50pm: Qatar GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 5.30pm)*
Saturday November 29
1pm: Qatar GP Sprint build-up*
2pm: QATAR GP SPRINT*
3.30pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook*
4.15pm: F2 Sprint
5.15pm: Qatar GP Qualifying build-up
6pm: QATAR GP QUALIFYING
8pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday November 30
11.55am: F2 Feature
2.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Qatar GP build-up
4pm: THE QATAR GRAND PRIX
6pm: Chequered Flag: Qatar GP reaction
7pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1’s season-ending triple header continues with the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint weekend live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.