When Lando Norris found himself at the center of a team order controversy in the Hungarian GP, everyone had something to say.
Lando Norris was asked to let his teammate Oscar Piastri pass for a potential win. Everyone in the F1 world knows this is a tough situation.
This isn’t the first time F1 drivers faced such a dilemma. Back in 2013, Sebastian Vettel defied a team order at Red Bull to attack Mark Webber. And in 2022, Max Verstappen refused to give up his place to Sergio Perez in Brazil.
Despite the pressure, Norris followed his race engineer Will Joseph’s emotional requests and let Piastri pass. This decision helped McLaren secure their first 1-2 finish since the 2021 Italian GP.
Many drivers were asked about this situation. Daniel Ricciardo, now with RB, said, “It’s like, you see a win in front of you and that’s it. But they were talking about a championship.” He emphasized the importance of team play in such moments.
Carlos Sainz from Ferrari said, “A team order is a team order, and I think the team always comes first.” He believes that even though it’s tough, a team order has to be respected for the greater good.
Valtteri Bottas, who has had his share of team orders at Mercedes, joked, “I’ve been there, mate!” He believes following team orders usually comes back in your favor eventually. In his words, “I would give the place back because I’m an amazing team player…”
Kevin Magnussen from Haas spoke with more honesty, saying, “It would’ve been tempting to hold onto it.” He admitted that it all depends on the situation and his relationship with the team.
These drivers are all fighting to secure their places in F1 and want to show they’re team players. Yet, the temptation to go for a win can be hard to resist.
Team orders are a tricky part of F1, but drivers know they often play the long game. If they gain today, they might have to give tomorrow.
