Lando Norris mentioned that he now considers Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri as presenting an “equal challenge” after his disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, while Piastri expressed that the result is a “net drawback,” even though it positioned him closer to the summit of the Formula 1 drivers’ standings.
Norris and Piastri were eliminated from the Las Vegas classification, where they had finished second and fourth, due to extreme wear on the plank, with both vehicles not meeting post-race inspection standards.
This development allowed Verstappen, the victor of his second Las Vegas GP, to accumulate 25 points over both drivers in the championship, advancing toward the penultimate weekend in Qatar, now trailing leader Norris by only 24 points and equaling Piastri’s score – but leading the Australian based on a tie-breaker.
Prior to the Las Vegas disqualification, it appeared that Norris’s first-ever global title was practically secured, but now the concluding two race weekends might introduce some tension for the 26-year-old.
In his statements before the Doha weekend, Norris suggested that his situation hasn’t changed drastically, and he continues to view both Verstappen and Piastri as comparable threats.
“In my opinion, we’ve regarded [Verstappen] as a contender throughout the season, even when he was trailing by several points,” Norris stated. “We are aware of his capabilities, and we are aware of what Red Bull is capable of, so essentially, nothing has shifted at this point because he is still the contender, and he has consistently been one throughout the year.”
“I genuinely strive to avoid approaching things differently because it’s unnecessary – there’s no justification to handle anything distinctly. We understand that Red Bull has demonstrated speed recently, therefore, we anticipate them to be fast this weekend and also the next.”
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images
When queried about the magnitude of the challenge posed by his teammate Piastri, he responded: “Both are equivalent; I believe they are equally skilled. Oscar possesses the capability to perform tasks akin to what Max can accomplish.
“Each possesses strengths and weaknesses, influenced by his involvement with a different team and Oscar’s presence in the champions’ team. However, each driver aims to contend for their own aspirations and establish their superiority, so I perceive them as both competitive and exceptionally strong. They are both remarkable drivers, and I am eager to engage them in a compelling contest on the track.”
Will Piastri be asked to help Norris? “The answer is no”
Concerning Piastri, his disqualification caused him to forfeit an additional 13 points to Verstappen, who has now achieved parity. Nonetheless, it has also enabled him to maintain a closer position to Norris at the top of the leaderboard, rather than falling behind by six points.
“Generally, the overall effect is still unfavorable,” Piastri remarked concerning the associated calculations. “Ultimately, it’s never a positive situation to obtain the outcome we experienced. Certainly, it somewhat prevents me from surrendering those six points to Lando, but it also significantly advances Max into the competition.”
Piastri revealed that the team engaged in a conversation regarding whether the championship forecast necessitates him to undertake a supportive role in aiding Norris to secure the title, but since Piastri retains the capacity to overcome Verstappen independently, this will not materialize.
“We engaged in a concise discussion on the matter, and the verdict is negative,” the Australian clarified. “I presently possess an equivalent point total to Max, and I maintain a respectable prospect of ultimately succeeding if circumstances favor me, so that’s the strategy we’ll implement. There remains a possibility, and it has unfolded that way on a few previous instances, so I recognize it’s not infeasible.
“Evidently, I also acknowledge that it’s somewhat of an unlikely prospect. Even if I achieve flawless performance in the concluding two weekends, I cannot solely depend on that. I necessitate other elements to align favorably, and I am thoroughly conscious of that. I intend to exert myself to achieve the optimal weekends I can, a practice I implement each weekend, and then observe the developments affecting everyone else.”
