The final rush begins
The 2024 Formula 1 World Championship restarts this weekend from the United States, with the highly anticipated round in Austin. McLaren comes to us as leaders in the Constructors’ standings and with the best car on track at the moment. Among the Pilots though Max Verstappen still has a 52 point lead over Lando Norris and he could afford to win the title by always finishing second in the six GPs and three Sprint races remaining at the end of the championship.
For this reason according to the former McLaren driver and 2009 world champion Jenson Button it’s time for the papaya team to put good feelings aside and start use Oscar Piastri as a real ‘wingman’through and through, by Norris. Only in this way, according to the Briton, will the team be able to think about taking away from Verstappen a fourth consecutive title which until a few months ago already seemed to be in the safe for the Dutchman.
Team orders required
“I like that there are no team orders because, as a driver, I hate them – commented Button on the podcast Sky Sports F1 – but if you want to win the World Championship, at a certain point you have to favor a rider. Especially at this stage of the championship, when every single point is important for Lando. If he wants to become world champion in 2024 he needs every single point“.
“This also means use Oscar to get the fastest lap, if Max has it during a race – suggested the Englishman, giving a very concrete example that could prove decisive at the end of the championship – it’s a really difficult situation for the riders and for the team, but you have to do it. This is why Ferrari won so many Michael Schumacher titles and why Sebastian Vettel won so many championships. Oscar has done an amazing job this year, but Lando has several points ahead. If they also want to win the Drivers’ title and not just the Constructors’ title, they will have to act like this.”.
#Button #message #McLaren #favor #Norris