Oscar Piastri has been reassured he’ll continue to get the same equal opportunity to win the Formula One drivers’ championship as his team mate Lando Norris when McLaren wraps up the constructors’ title.

The British manufacturer has been under fire from Piastri’s irate motor racing fans since the Australian was told to hand back second place to Norris at the recent Italian Grand Prix in Monza when his team mate was disadvantaged by a pit stop error.

McLaren have denied suggestions they are favouring Norris in the battle for the drivers’ title with team boss Andrea Stella reaffirming both drivers were free to race each other.

He said that will remain the team’s policy right to the end, even after they retain the constructors’ title, which could happen as soon as Sunday night’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

“The approach to the drivers’ title will not change. This is not dependent on the constructors’,” Stella said.

“The way we go racing is dependent on the racing principles, on the values that we embody as McLaren Racing, and also is a reflection of the fact that we want to protect the unity of the team, which is a foundational condition for the future.”

Stella confirmed McLaren did review its decision to ask Piastri to let Norris pass him at Monza and was adamant it was the right call.

“Like after every race weekend, we review how we operate, the decisions we make, like the driving and so on,” he said.

“We did the same after Monza, and we could confirm that the way we operated is what we intended, is what we can confirm for the future. So while we remain open and attentive to anything that happens, I think that situation gave us a possibility to confirm our approach.”

Piastri himself has stated that he was fine with the decision and has already moved on. He leads Norris by 31 points in the standings so remains in the box seat.

Stella said he understood why so many fans were in disagreement over McLaren’s orders to their drivers but said suggestions one driver was being prioritised over the other was below the belt.

“Racing situations are definitely susceptible to different interpretations. So we are comfortable with the noise, with the comments. We welcome the comments,” Stella said.

“But what’s important is that they always remain respectful. Respect is a very important value for McLaren Racing, and I’m sure for everyone.

“From the pit wall, we execute what we agree with our drivers, which ultimately becomes our racing principles and approach.”

NORRIS BESTS MCLAREN TEAMMATE AND TITLE RIVAL PIASTRI IN BAKU

– From AFP

An in-form Lando Norris set the pace ahead of McLaren team-mate, title rival and championship leader Oscar Piastri in Friday’s eventful and red flag-punctuated opening practice at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old Briton, who trails by 31 points in the drivers’ title race, clocked a best lap in one minute and 42.704 to top the times, beating his 24-year-old Australian rival by 0.310 seconds.

A similar 1-2 outcome in Sunday’s race would clinch a second consecutive constructors’ championship success for McLaren and leave the duo to fight for the individual title without the spectre of team orders.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third, half a second adrift closely followed by fourth-placed George Russell of Mercedes.

Williams’ Alex Albon was fifth, ahead of the Red Bulls of Yuki Tsunoda and four-time champion Max Verstappen, Williams’ Carlos Sainz and the Racing Bulls pair of Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar.

Kimi Antonelli, seeking a clean session after a series of inconsistent outings at the European races, was 11th for Mercedes and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes down in 13th after a brush with the barriers.

The session began in warm sunshine with Franco Colapinto leading the way for Alpine ahead of the rest of the pack, including a sickly Russell who had missed Thursday’s media sessions due to illness.

Verstappen set the early pace before being overhauled by Russell and Hadjar as the track improved, the traffic — all running on new extra-soft tyres for the street circuit demands — clearing leaves and laying down rubber in rising temperatures.

Ten minutes in, Piastri pitted for attention to a possible engine problem while Leclerc worked his way to top the times before the action was red-flagged, due to debris at Turn 16, as Norris took over.

The debris came from bonding material used to retain the kerb and repairs required a 24-minute pause before the session resumed with Piastri back in his car and 20 minutes remaining.

Norris, needing a run of good results to reduce Piastri’s advantage in the title race, was showing good pace and improved his best lap to 1:42.704, a full second clear of Verstappen with 10 minutes to go and Piastri in third.

Ferrari’s mixed fortunes continued as Leclerc rose to second in 1:43.286 on one of his favourite circuits, while Hamilton hit the wall at Turn Five, damaging his front wing and picking up a puncture.

Hamilton trundled back to the pits, but after rapid repairs rejoined the fray.str/mw