- McLaren’s Oscar Piastri won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku on Sunday
- The Australian once again proved his future world champion material
- Ex- McLaren driver John Watson does not think Lando Norris should be favoured
John Watson has called on McLaren to stop prioritising Lando Norris, claiming if he cannot beat his ‘outstanding’ team-mate Oscar Piastri on merit he would be an ‘unworthy champion’.
Watson, winner of the 1981 British Grand Prix, was deeply impressed by the style of Piastri’s victory in Azerbaijan last Sunday, telling Mail Sport: ‘He will be a world champion one day, but I don’t know that Norris will be.
‘Piastri is a superstar. He showed exactly how you win a grand prix, under pressure lap after lap. It was flawless in every respect, and he was as cool as a cucumber afterwards. This from a guy who is 23 and only in his second season.’
Watson passed Niki Lauda to win for McLaren at Long Beach, California, in 1983 from 22nd on the grid in a similar manner to Piastri’s race-defining overtake on the unsuspecting Charles Leclerc at the weekend. The Australian then defended his lead tenaciously.
‘He didn’t show much emotion afterwards,’ said Watson, 78. ‘He is a real racing driver. With Norris I don’t know whether he is a racing driver who is also an influencer or an influencer who happens to be a racing driver. For Piastri it was a case of job done and move on to the next race.
Former McLaren driver John Watson has called on the team to stop prioritising Lando Norris
‘This outstanding performance changed everything, and I’d be extremely disappointed if McLaren show any bias towards Norris from now on.
‘Norris has definitely driven well this season and won two races — one, in Miami, that was fortunate, and a thoroughly deserved one in the Netherlands. But he is still 59 points behind (Max) Verstappen, almost two-and-a-half race wins’ difference, so to favour him from that far away is premature and grossly unfair on Piastri.
‘If it came down to the last race and he was within a few points of the title, I’d understand. Yes, Oscar is further back (91), but stranger things have happened.
Watson believes Piastri (right) will be a world champion one day but he’s not sure about Norris
‘Anyway, winning the constructors’ title is any team’s priority. Winning the drivers’ is confetti, though sponsors like it.’
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said the internal dynamic would be reviewed ahead of Sunday’s race in Singapore, aware he is on the horns of a dilemma.
‘We have two No 1 drivers effectively,’ said the Italian. ‘And that means we approach things in the interests of the team. The interest of the team is to win the constructors’ championship and, yes, also to win the drivers’ championship.
‘Lando was in the most favourable position before Sunday’s race, and still is, so naturally we would have supported Lando.
Watson was deeply impressed by the style of Piastri’s victory in Azerbaijan on Sunday
‘But on Sunday, as it happened, it was Lando supporting Oscar and enabling him to his victory by driving for the team.
‘This remains our approach. We always intended to review the situation with the drivers after every event, to look at what is the best approach for the next races, which we will do.’
