The Qatar Grand Prix Sprint witnessed a dramatic display of teamwork and strategic maneuvering from McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Norris, starting from pole position, dominated the race, leading every lap. However, in a surprising twist, he deliberately slowed down in the final moments, gifting the victory to his teammate Piastri. This wasn’t a spontaneous act of generosity; it was a carefully orchestrated plan, a reciprocal arrangement stemming from the Brazilian Grand Prix, where Piastri had yielded a similar advantage to Norris.
This calculated move was not without its complexities. Norris revealed that McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, actually instructed him *not* to relinquish the lead. “The team told me not to do it,” Norris admitted to Sky Sports F1, “but I thought I could get away with it, and we did.” His rationale? While sprint wins are significant, his primary focus remains on securing Grand Prix victories and ultimately, the championship title. “Honestly, I don’t mind. I’m not here to win Sprint races, I’m here to win [Grand Prix] races – and a championship,” he stated.
The collaboration extended beyond the final lap. Throughout the 19-lap sprint, Norris strategically aided Piastri, providing DRS assistance and controlling his pace to prevent George Russell from mounting a serious challenge. This calculated teamwork yielded phenomenal results: a McLaren one-two finish, significantly increasing their lead in the Constructors’ Championship. Their 30-point advantage over Ferrari now positions them to potentially secure the title with a substantial lead of at least 45 points after Sunday’s main Grand Prix.
Stella praised the strategic partnership, highlighting the “collaboration, unity, and cohesion” within the McLaren team as key factors in their championship pursuit. He explained that the team initially attempted to alleviate pressure on Norris by suggesting the current finishing order over the radio, but Norris’ proactive decision to reciprocate the favour from Brazil speaks volumes about the team’s strong bond and strategic acumen.
Norris himself detailed his contribution, emphasizing the importance of teamwork: “Considering we started first and third and didn’t cruise away and have an easy race, there was quite a lot of me trying to help Oscar. First of all into Turn One, to give George some dirty air on the inside and allow Oscar to have a crack on the outside and he did exactly that. That was a perfect start to the race.” He continued, “I did my part by giving him DRS and helping him out, which makes my life a bit more stressful, but our plan was a one-two and we would not have finished first and second if we didn’t work together as a team.” Piastri echoed these sentiments, praising the “good show of teamwork” and acknowledging the successful execution of their pre-race strategy.
The Qatar Grand Prix promises to be an exciting culmination to this strategic partnership, with McLaren aiming to solidify their Constructors’ Championship victory. The event is scheduled to be broadcast on Sky Sports F1 on Sunday, December 1st, with coverage including the F1 Academy Race, F2 Feature Race, and the main Grand Prix itself.
