Piastri would accept ‘number two’ role but Norris says he hasn’t ‘earned’ priority yet · RaceFans

Oscar Piastri says he is prepared to play a ‘number two’ role to help his team mate win the world championship if McLaren request it.

However Lando Norris says he hasn’t earned the right to ‘number one’ status at the team yet, despite being the closest threat to points leader Max Verstappen.

Norris gave up his chance to win the Hungarian Grand Prix last week when McLaren told him to let Piastri by in the final stint of the race. The pair swapped positions at the final round of pit stops as McLaren gave Norris priority to protect him from attacks from behind and Piastri was told the original running order would be reinstated.

However giving up the win cost Norris seven points to Verstappen, who enjoys a 76-point margin at the top of the standings. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said yesterday the team will discuss during the summer break whether they should prioritise Norris’ championship bid and require Piastri to support him.

Piastri acknowledged “that is a possibility” and said he is willing to comply if McLaren order him to back Norris up. “Of course I want to try and get myself up as high as I can but ultimately, I race for McLaren, and they have the ultimate say,” he said.

The two McLaren drivers are separated by 40 points in the championship. Piastri said he’s not out of contention yet.

“I’m going to try and make up as many points as I can,” he said. “Of course, we’re still very early in the season, I’m a long way behind in the drivers’ standings, but I’m also not out of it and it doesn’t take that many races to be in the same position that Lando’s in. So let’s see how it plays out.

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“If they need me to be a team player and try and help Lando, then of course I’ll do that. But I think the biggest thing is trying to score the most points of all the teams and win the constructors’. I think that’s definitely the biggest opportunity we have and we’ll see if there’s others as well.”

He believes it’s too early for McLaren to favour either driver in the championship. “We’re just over halfway through the season, there’s a long way to go and I think the decisions we made in Budapest showed that, in the team’s view, it’s important about, keeping the relationship strong, keeping building the team, and ultimately scoring as many points for the constructors as we can.

“Like I said, if Lando is in a position to win the championship and they ask me to help, then I will. But I think halfway through the season, with so many points still on offer, for myself as well, I think it’s still very early.”

However Norris also believes McLaren shouldn’t throw their efforts solely behind him yet. “I still need to earn it,” he said. “I still need to go out there and drive quicker than everyone.”

He said the situation which unfolded in Hungary shouldn’t lead the team to reconsider its approach to the championships.

“I don’t know why is now the point, all of a sudden, where you would have a bias over one? We’ve never had a bias in the team. It might have looked like it from the outside, that happens a lot now.”

“I’ve had the chance the whole season,” he added. “We’re only halfway through and we’ve got a hell of a long way to go. So maybe a little bit further down the line but that time is to be decided.”

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