September 12th 2024.
The McLaren team is determined to make a comeback in the drivers' championship, which they haven't won since 2008, and the constructors' title, which has eluded them since 1998. They have come to the realization that to defeat Red Bull and dethrone Max Verstappen, they need to fully support one driver, and that driver is Lando Norris. This means that his teammate, Oscar Piastri, who is only in his second season of F1, has agreed to play second fiddle to Norris when needed. With Norris having more experience and two wins under his belt compared to Piastri's one, it was an obvious choice for the team to rally behind Norris.
However, the team may regret not implementing this strategy sooner, as Piastri has taken points off Norris in previous races in Hungary and Italy. Currently, Norris is 62 points behind Verstappen with eight races left to go. It will be a tough challenge for him, but with the momentum that McLaren has been building, they could easily close the eight-point gap with reigning champions Red Bull in the constructors' race this weekend in Azerbaijan. The race is on, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.
In the previous race at Monza, Piastri made a move on Norris on the opening lap, which ultimately led to McLaren losing the race to Ferrari. After reviewing the data, team principal Andrea Stella has realized that they should have implemented this strategy before the summer break. He has stated that they will support Norris, but without compromising their principles of sportsmanship and fairness towards both drivers. This is something that sets them apart from other teams like Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes, who have dominated the sport for most of this century.
Stella, who joined McLaren from Ferrari in 2015, has had open and collaborative discussions with both drivers about this decision. When he asked Piastri if he would be willing to give up a win for Norris, the Australian driver said he would do it if it's the right thing to do. This shows the team's unity and their focus on achieving their goal, even if it means making difficult decisions.
There is some flexibility in this arrangement, as it will apply on a race-by-race basis. If Norris has a bad race this weekend, Piastri may be allowed to race freely. Norris has also stated that he does not want his teammate to give up any wins that he deserves. He believes that if Piastri is deserving of a win, he should be allowed to take it. This is not something we often hear from multiple world champions like Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton, and it raises the question of whether Norris is too nice to win the championship. He has stated that he wants to win the championship by beating Verstappen and proving he's the best, rather than being given a victory or a championship through team orders.
Piastri has expressed his content with this agreement, stating that it still needs some discussion, but the main point is that he won't be pulling over for Norris every race. As a driver, he wants to race freely, but he also understands the bigger picture and the team's goals.
Meanwhile, Aston Martin is making big moves with their recent signing of world-renowned designer Adrian Newey. This has given the team a newfound confidence, with team principal Mike Krack beaming with excitement when he met the media in Baku. He believes that appointing Newey shows the team's credibility and is proof of their ambition. While drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will be the first to benefit from Newey's input, Krack has his sights set on Verstappen. He has stated that the door is always open for the young Dutch driver, and with Newey on board, it opens many doors for the future.
Speaking of fresh faces, there will be two new starters on the grid in Azerbaijan. Franco Colapinto has replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams, while Ollie Bearman will be driving for Haas. 19-year-old Bearman has previously substituted for Carlos Sainz in March while the Ferrari driver was recovering from appendix surgery, and he did a fantastic job finishing in seventh place. However, it may be a tall order for him to replicate this performance with Haas, as he is filling in for Kevin Magnussen, who has earned a race ban due to too many penalty points.
It will be an exciting race in Baku, with a lot at stake for both the drivers' and constructors' championships. McLaren's new strategy and Aston Martin's big moves have added an interesting dynamic to the competition. Let's see how it all unfolds on the track.
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