Norris gives Piastri victory in Qatar sprint as McLaren closes in on F1 constructors’ title

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Lando Norris ignored team orders as he handed McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri victory in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday.

With McLaren aiming for their first Formula 1 constructors’ title in 26 years and George Russell close behind for Mercedes, the team told Norris over the radio to “finish in this order”, ahead of Piastri.

He decided to gift the victory to his teammate anyway, paying Piastri to do the same in the sprint race in Brazil when Norris was still battling Max Verstappen for the drivers’ title. Norris drifted to the right at the exit of the final corner and then crossed back in front of Russell, who finished third.

“I made a decision in Brazil when it happened,” Norris said. “I needed to do something to pay it forward.”

Norris started from pole position and held the lead early as Piastri overtook Russell for second place. As Russell repeatedly attacked Piastri for second place, Norris fell back rather than building a lead. That put Piastri within a second of Norris, allowing the Australian to use DRS overtaking aid to gain speed.

“I did everything I could to help Oscar. I knew George was going to be fast,” Norris said.

Russell expressed frustration with the McLaren team’s work and what he saw as Piastri’s late moves to defend the position.

McLaren increased its lead over Ferrari in the constructors’ championship to 30 points, as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. was fourth and Charles Leclerc fifth.

Teams can earn a maximum of 88 more points in Sunday’s Grand Prix race in Qatar and next week’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Red Bull fell to 67 points behind McLaren in the standings as Verstappen, crowned drivers’ champion for the fourth time last week in Las Vegas, finished eighth and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez was last after a stop at pits to change the nose of your car.

Qualifying will take place later on Saturday for Sunday’s Grand Prix race.

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