McLaren advises Norris against giving Piastri sprint win in Qatar due to Russell threat

McLaren instructed Lando Norris not to let Oscar Piastri win the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race due to concerns about Mercedes driver George Russell's proximity. Norris had initially planned to give Piastri the victory as a thank you for past support. Despite Norris's intentions, his race engineer reminded him to maintain their finishing order, prioritizing team strategy over individual gestures. Norris acknowledged the team's concerns about Russell's threat during the race. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella emphasized the importance of team cohesion and sportsmanship. He noted that while the team felt nervous about Russell's position, Norris's decision to help Piastri reflected their collaborative spirit.