Lando Norris insists he’ll ‘not beg’ Oscar Piastri to let him pass despite heated championship duel with Max Verstappen

Lando Norris did not have the best of outings in Monza despite starting the 53-lap event from pole position.

Lando Norris insists he’ll ‘not beg’ Oscar Piastri to let him pass despite heated championship duel with Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, and Lando Norris (Via: CNN, Getty Images)

Lando Norris the McLaren F1 driver, has made it clear as to how he looks at his on-track tussles with teammate Oscar Piastri. Norris was overtaken by the latter on lap 1 in Monza. Following the race, he admitted that he’s not going to beg anyone to let him by despite his ongoing championship tussle.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is currently leading the 2024 Driver’s Championship by 62 points over Lando Norris. After the Italian GP, the Brit was asked whether he needed help from his teammate to secure the championship.

YouTube video

The 24-year-old’s conversation with the interviewer went like this:

FS Video
Interviewer: You are doing the best you can, are you gonna need some help? 
Norris: I have, I have help! 
Interviewer: From your teammate? 
Norris: Yeah, he helps me, but I'm not here just to beg for someone to let me pass, that's not why I'm here.
Lando Norris in a conversation post Italian GP

The prolific Brit has made it known that despite his intense championship tussle with Verstappen, he is not going to ask his teammate for any favors. The ongoing campaign has eight races remaining and Norris is currently sitting on 241 points compared to the Dutchman’s 303.

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Lewis Hamilton feels Lando Norris and Co. ‘killed their tires’ too fast in Monza

While Lando Norris is not asking anyone for any favors going forward, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton believes McLaren could have won the Italian GP. Oscar Piastri fell short against Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by going for a two-stop strategy.

Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris
Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris (images via IMAGO)

The same was the case for Norris and Hamilton feels that this is where the papaya missed a trick.

McLaren had the pace but pushed too hard. They were doing much too fast laps, early on. They killed their tires. I guess they planned for a two-stop, that’s why they were pushing so hard. If they backed off longer they could’ve made a one-stop.
Lewis Hamilton via Express.co.uk

The fight in both the F1 world championships is getting tighter. The gap in the constructors’ bout is down to single digits between McLaren and Red Bull and at the next race in Baku, papaya will have a golden chance of securing the lead.

However, in the Driver’s Championship, McLaren will have to step in strongly if they are to help Norris in his tussle against Verstappen. The 62-point gap can be covered in the remaining races if Zak Brown and Co. prioritize Norris over Piastri.

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