McLaren Piastri & Norris: No Driver Sacrifice Confirmed | F1 News

Verstappen & Norris head into Qatar with Championship on the Line

The Formula 1⁤ World Championship battle intensifies ⁤as Max Verstappen and Lando Norris arrive in Qatar for a ⁢pivotal⁢ race weekend. Both drivers have a chance to secure the title, setting the ⁤stage⁢ for a thrilling showdown. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has affirmed⁤ that his drivers will be allowed to ‌compete freely, without team orders, as long ‍as the mathematical possibility of​ either winning the championship remains.

Stella emphasized ⁤the team’s satisfaction with their current position. He stated that⁣ reaching this point with two races remaining would have been a welcome⁢ scenario at the ​start of the season. Now,​ McLaren ‍is prepared‌ to fight for both ⁢world championships with confidence.

Norris Remains Focused, Unfazed by Pressure

Norris himself downplayed the meaning of this weekend being his first “match point.” He maintains that the 24-point gap to Verstappen remains ⁤unchanged⁣ since ⁣Las Vegas. ​

He doesn’t anticipate, nor desire, ​any assistance from teammate Oscar⁢ Piastri. Norris has consistently outperformed Piastri as the ⁤Zandvoort race and intends to approach this weekend with the same competitive spirit as he did in Las Vegas.

he acknowledges Red Bull’s recent pace and‌ expects them to be strong contenders in Qatar and the final race.However, he believes no adjustments are needed within the McLaren team.

Disqualification in Vegas ​- A Quick recovery

Despite the ⁣disappointment of his disqualification in Las Vegas due to a technical infringement, Norris has moved on.⁢ The rear plank on his⁣ car was found to be marginally outside the permitted tolerance – just 0.07mm over the limit.

He accepted the decision as part of the rules,acknowledging the effort that went into the weekend but recognizing the swift impact of the penalty.‍ Norris and the entire McLaren team felt let down,⁣ but he⁣ demonstrated a resilient attitude.

Addressing the Las ‌Vegas Issue

McLaren issued an​ apology to its drivers ⁤following the disqualification. Stella explained that unexpected porpoising on the Las​ Vegas⁤ street circuit was the primary cause of the issue. ⁢The ⁣team is actively working to understand and mitigate this phenomenon to prevent recurrence.

Ultimately, the⁣ Qatar ‍Grand Prix⁣ promises to be ⁤a crucial ​event‌ in the championship fight.You can expect a fierce battle between Verstappen⁢ and Norris,with⁤ McLaren aiming to capitalize on their recent performance gains. The outcome will considerably shape the ‍destiny of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship.