Norris defied team to hand Piastri Qatar Sprint victory

Lando Norris was told by his McLaren team that he shouldn’t try to let Oscar Piastri by as he relinquished victory at the end of the Sprint at the Qatar Grand Prix.

Exiting the final corner, Norris slowed and moved to the inside to give Piastri a clear run at the line, returning the favor for his teammate handing him victory in the Sprint at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Norris then revealed he had been told by the team not to switch the positions because George Russell was too close behind Piastri, but he ignored that request.

“It was probably a bit closer than what I was wanting, but I planned to do it since Brazil,” Norris said. “Just what I thought was best, probably a bit sketchy, the team told me not to do it, but I thought I could get away with it and we did.

“So honestly I don’t mind, I’m not here to win Sprint races, I’m here to win races and a championship -- but that’s not gone to plan. So I did the best we could and I look forward to tomorrow.”

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Norris says he had only told his race engineer that he planned on giving the position up if he had the opportunity, and he believes few other teammates would work in a similar way.

“It wasn't something that was really discussed. I didn't have to do it if I didn't want to," he said. "I told my engineer that I would do it so he was the main one that probably knew about it. I told him before the race if we have a bit of a gap and we’re first and second, and then I would try and do it. 

“So he knew and he was telling me not to do it because I think the gap to George was probably a bit too fine for their liking. But Oscar did his part in trying to help me get closer to Max in the championship and give that opportunity a go.

“I deserved that right to have a chance and that's how we have to work as a team, when one of us has that opportunity. And I returned the favor today.

“I don't think any of us are proud of necessarily winning a Sprint race or we’re also not too unhappy on giving up a Sprint race win. But we work together well as a team, and I think that's probably one of our biggest strengths over everyone is how well we work together.

“I don't think any other team would do such a thing and help each other as much as we've done this year for one another. It's our strength, and we'll continue to do that.”