Steiner Urges McLaren to Support Piastri for F1 Drivers' Championship
Following McLaren's recent triumph in securing the constructors' championship at the Singapore Grand Prix, former Haas Formula 1 boss Guenther Steiner has issued a clear directive to the Woking-based team: focus their efforts on supporting Oscar Piastri for the drivers' title. Steiner's counsel comes after a race where Piastri and Lando Norris finished third and fourth respectively, cementing McLaren's team championship. With only six race weekends remaining, Piastri currently holds a 22-point lead over Norris, while Max Verstappen of Red Bull trails Norris by 41 points. Steiner emphasizes that McLaren must make a strategic decision to back one driver to maximize their chances of claiming the individual driver's crown, rather than allowing a free-for-all that could ultimately benefit a rival.
Steiner voiced his opinion on 'The Red Flags Podcast', commending McLaren's constructors' victory but expressing reservations about their driver management strategy. He suggested that the team's approach in Singapore, which saw both drivers racing without clear team orders, was not conducive to a championship campaign. Steiner believes that if McLaren is serious about securing the drivers' title, they need to abandon their 'Papaya rules' — an unwritten code that has allowed their drivers to compete directly — and instead implement a defined team hierarchy. He specifically pointed to Piastri's current points advantage as the rationale for designating him as the lead driver.
The former team principal highlighted that in championship scenarios, a team must be decisive. He asserted that in the current standings, with Piastri leading Norris, the logical step is to support Piastri. Steiner candidly stated that he would be displeased if McLaren were to lose the drivers' championship due to a lack of clear team direction. He argued that while allowing both drivers to race freely can be exciting, it introduces an element of 'calculation' rather than pure racing, potentially jeopardizing the ultimate goal. He suggested that favoring one driver, even if it leads to one unhappy driver, is preferable to having two unhappy drivers and no championship title.
McLaren's current policy has been to permit both Norris and Piastri to race openly, provided they maintain a clean fight and avoid collisions. This approach has led to several intense on-track battles throughout the season. A notable instance occurred at the recent Singapore Grand Prix, where Norris overtook Piastri on the opening lap. Piastri subsequently inquired if the team would impose orders to allow him to reclaim his position. However, McLaren chose not to intervene, a decision supported by the stewards who deemed Norris's maneuver a fair racing incident. Steiner observed that Piastri's query itself stemmed from the team's inconsistent decision-making in past racing scenarios, which has created ambiguity for the drivers.
Steiner acknowledged that Norris's move at the start of the Singapore Grand Prix was a demonstration of aggressive yet fair racing. However, he reiterated that the broader context of championship aspirations necessitates a more disciplined approach. For McLaren to truly contend for the drivers' championship, they must overcome the challenges posed by their current internal competitive dynamics. The team's dedication to allowing equal opportunity has, in Steiner's view, inadvertently complicated their championship bid, demanding a clear strategic pivot in the remaining races to consolidate points and secure the coveted individual title.