McLaren’s Piastri: no longer bound to back Norris’ title bid in 2024

As the Las Vegas Grand Prix approaches, McLaren has announced a shift in team strategy, allowing its drivers more freedom on the track. Oscar Piastri, a McLaren driver, revealed he no longer needs to operate in a support role for teammate Lando Norris, especially now that Norris' prospects for the driver's championship have become a long shot.

"Pretty much, yes," Piastri said this week when questioned about the change in team strategy.

Currently, Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen dominates the drivers' standings with 393 points. Norris follows in second with 331 points, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at 307 and Piastri trailing at 262.

Operating under the so-called "papaya rules," Piastri was previously required to assist Norris in maximizing his points tally to apply pressure on Verstappen. This strategy was evident during the sprint race in Brazil on November 3, where Piastri ceded his position to Norris. Norris eventually finished sixth, securing eight points, while Piastri finished eighth, earning four points. Verstappen won the race, extending his lead with a 26-point haul.

While Piastri's "pretty much" comment implies he is largely free from the support role, he acknowledged there are still certain scenarios where he might need to assist:

"There's still some, let's say, very specific scenarios where I might be needed to help out," Piastri explained. "But for the very large majority of situations, it's back to how it was."

Despite Verstappen's strong hold on the drivers' championship, McLaren's focus remains on clinching the constructors' championship. Heading into Las Vegas, McLaren leads the constructors' standings with 593 points, followed by Ferrari with 557 and Red Bull with 544.

Piastri, to his credit, has not objected to playing a support role and has his sights set on a more prominent position in the future:

"Obviously next year, I want to make sure that I'm not in a position, championship-wise, to be subject to that," Piastri said. "But in reality, I probably needed to help out that one time in Brazil and that's been it. So it's been a lot of talk, but not much on-track action."

As McLaren gears up for the next crucial race, the shift in strategy signals a more dynamic and competitive approach for its drivers, potentially reshaping the landscape of the remaining races.

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