After being advised by McLaren that he wanted to prioritise his teammate’s world title bid, Oscar Piastri has certified second for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, whereas Lando Norris will begin seventeenth.
McLaren have had the perfect automobile for a number of races and Norris has steadily closed the hole within the drivers’ championship to Purple Bull’s Max Verstappen, whose dominance over F1 has disappeared.
Nevertheless, in per week the place McLaren confirmed they’d prioritise Norris over Piastri, after the Australian outclassed the world title challenger at Monza, the Brit might solely qualify seventeenth quickest and was knocked out of Q1.
He needed to watch from the paddock as his teammate, who completed second in Monza, soared to second whereas Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed pole.
The most important blow for Norris was compounded when he watched Verstappen, who leads the championship by 62 factors with eight races remaining, wrestle to sixth-fastest.
With time expiring on the finish of Q1 and Norris on his flying lap, the Alpine of Esteban Ocon forward clipped the wall and slowed down.
A yellow flag was briefly displayed on a digital panel in entrance of Norris, however was then rapidly eliminated.
Norris instantly slowed down after seeing the panel flip yellow, but it surely didn’t keep yellow for lengthy.
Norris tried to get onto the accelerator however made a large number of the subsequent nook. He then aborted his lap.
Norris was not on the tempo on his first run and clocked in a banker time which seemed underneath menace from vehicles who had been going to do one other quick lap on the finish of the session, when the observe was at its quickest.
That proved to be the case, as McLaren can be left questioning if they need to have despatched Norris out earlier, or if he even wanted to decelerate as he had not reached the panel earlier than slowing down.
“It’s what it’s, lengthy race forward, we’ve some good tyres within the financial institution,” a dejected Norris advised Sky Sports activities F1.
“I am nonetheless hopeful we are able to get a superb consequence, the automobile remains to be fast. Somewhat bit irritating however nothing I might do.”
When requested if he had the “inexperienced gentle” to race for the win tomorrow, Piastri cheekily stated “positively”.
“I believe following round right here can be actually robust, so hopefully I can get some clear air however I believe our race tempo is sweet,” he stated.
“However the Ferraris aren’t gradual.”
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix can be held on the Baku road circuit on Sunday at 9pm, AEST.
