Lando Norris Prioritizes Racing Over Team Orders at Italian GP Amid Title Chase

Lando Norris discusses team instructions at McLaren F1: “My goal is to compete”

“My objective is to compete. That’s my purpose for being here. We’ve discussed all aspects and are ready for any scenario.”

Lando Norris emphasizes his eagerness to compete against his McLaren F1 teammate, Oscar Piastri, amid inquiries regarding whether he ought to receive preferential treatment in his pursuit of Max Verstappen.

Norris clinched the top spot for the Italian Grand Prix, and with his main competitor, Verstappen, starting from the seventh position, this could significantly impact his championship aspirations with McLaren this season.

The issue of team instructions has often been a major discussion point for McLaren, especially in light of the events that took place in Hungary.

Oscar Piastri clinched the win at the Hungaroring when Norris stepped aside to let him pass, complying with a directive from the McLaren team.

Given McLaren's recent performance surpassing Red Bull, Norris is now a genuine contender for the championship. In light of this, 2016 F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg has urged the Woking-based team to prioritize their British driver.

In response to inquiries about team directives, Norris conveyed to Sky post-qualifying: “My aim is to compete. That's my purpose for being here. We've discussed all aspects and are ready for any scenario.

"If Oscar manages to outperform and lead in the race, it likely means he has executed his tasks more effectively than I have."

"We understand what's ideal for our group. Our aim is to secure the top two positions as a team, and collaboration is the most effective strategy to achieve this."

Heading into Sunday's race, Norris remains cautious of the challenge Verstappen is expected to bring, despite starting from the seventh position on the grid.

Evaluating Verstappen's prospects, Norris commented: "Definitely, it presents a favorable chance. I anticipate he will swiftly move up and find himself trailing our group, given their impressive race speed observed on Friday. Their performance indicated a superior handling of tire wear and degradation. I believe they are entering tomorrow with a more optimistic outlook."

For reasons unknown, they appeared to have not progressed during the qualifying rounds. He remained fast, notably in Q2 where he was very competitive and ultimately outpaced me, even while on a worn tire.

"The distance between him and Perez wasn't as significant as it usually is, so I'm not sure if he had more difficulties with something or if his laps weren't up to par. There must be a reason for it, and we should aim to capitalize on that."

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