Oscar Piastri has underscored his commitment to McLaren by asserting his faith in the team is more fundamental than his own desire to win the world championship.<\/p>\n
Piastri leads the Drivers\u2019 Championship with nine rounds remaining, his advantage over teammate Lando Norris having been eroded courtesy of team orders at the Italian Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
Oscar Piastri prioritises McLaren\u2019s success over championship hopes<\/p>\n
A controversial request in the latter stages in Monza saw Piastri allow Norris through into second place.<\/p>\n
The pair had been running in that order behind Max Verstappen for much of the race, only for the Australian to nose ahead after his teammate endured a slow stop.<\/p>\n
With the title fight effectively a straight duel between the McLaren duo, the squad\u2019s decision to reverse the position was deemed an overstep by many.<\/p>\n
The Woking squad has insisted on fairness between its two drivers all season, with the explanation offered to Piastri over the radio in Monza squatting it to the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, where a similar position swap landed the Melburnian his first F1 race win.<\/p>\n
The incident drew into focus the tightrope McLaren must walk to ensure fairness but not favouritism between its drivers.<\/p>\n
Similarly, it created an opportunity for Piastri to draw a line in the sand \u2013 a moment where the championship battle developed an edge.<\/p>\n
Instead, he chose not to. A week on from that decision, he remains convinced he made the right call.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have had very good discussions this week about what went on and what can be made clearer, what can be improved,\u201d Piastri told ESPN.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s always kind of a learning process, I guess. But yeah, ultimately I know that the team would have my best interests at heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd ultimately, I want to protect that because I can\u2019t have my own success without the team having success. So protecting that is a very important thing for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Within McLaren, the focus has always been on the teams\u2019 championship first.<\/p>\n
It is against that which prize money is paid out, worth well over $100 million a year.<\/p>\n
The general understanding was that the drivers were not to do anything to compromise the team\u2019s position in the Constructors\u2019 Championship, but with that all but wrapped up for a second success year, there is an argument to be made for Piastri, and Norris, beginning to put themselves first.<\/p>\n
The championship leader disagrees, insisting that he not get more \u2018ruthless\u2019.<\/p>\n
More on Oscar Piastri and the Drivers\u2019 Championship<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49 Why McLaren has no need to favour Norris or Piastri in tight title battle<\/a><\/p>\n