💬 “As the race develops, it becomes clear that one has a significantly better chance than another … we’re a team that wants to win the drivers’ championship and we will race accordingly to do whatever we can to get whatever that driver is in front to win the race.”
That is what McLaren CEO Zak Brown said ahead of this climactic weekend, making it crystal clear the team will use team orders if necessary to make sure Max Verstappen doesn’t win a fifth drivers’ championship — and one of his two drivers does.
That also puts the pressure on Oscar Piastri early, because for as long as he is behind Lando Norris in this grand prix, he will also be behind his McLaren teammate in the championship picture.
It’s Verstappen on pole, Norris alongside him and Piastri P3 on the grid. Brown continued:
💬 “Our team orders have been around giving equal opportunities to win the championship. But as the race plays out, if it becomes clear that both can’t, then we’re going to do what’s in the best interest of the team to win the drivers’ championship.”
You can read Luke Smith’s piece in full below.