Oscar Piastri has accepted team orders being introduced at McLaren in order to aid the World Championship challenge of Lando Norris.
The Australian admits that there is a “bigger picture” than just his own interests given that both titles are at stake.
Team boss Andrea Stella has said that Piastri will now support Norris if required to do so.
“It’s obviously been something we’ve discussed a lot in the last few days,” said Piastri.
“Selfishly as a driver in my own interests, of course team orders are not that fun, but in saying that, I realise that there’s a much bigger picture here than just myself.
“I race for a team that’s given me my opportunity in F1, and a team that has given me the opportunity to win races in F1 within 18 months of being here, so I have a lot of gratitude for that.
“And again, the bigger picture, this is about much more than just me. We’re trying to achieve both championships, which for the team is an incredibly big thing.
“The constructors’ is one thing, but if you have the opportunity to win both championships in the year, then as a team it’s a massive objective to try and achieve both.
“Of course, being selfish, I would prefer to not have it. But I’m very aware that it’s not just about me, and I’m happy to play a supporting role at this point of the season.
“I think any earlier in the season, it would have been probably excessive, but I think now it’s an appropriate time to try and help the team win both championships.”
Piastri suggested that should he have to make any personal sacrifices in order to aid Norris they will be “remembered” and he will eventually be repaid.
“It’s something that won’t be forgotten, I guess, in the future,” he says. “I know that if it was the other way around, then we would be having exactly the same discussions about driver A or driver B.
“There’s been things in the past, whether it be with upgrades or strategy in some races, that have always been remembered in the future. So that’s kind of our way of going.”
Piastri also indicated that there is still some flexibility in terms of what the team might do in various scenarios.
“It still needs some more discussion,” he said. “But I think the main point is it’s not purely just going to be me pulling over for Lando every single race, because that’s how none of us, including Lando, want to go racing.
“Trying to go through all the scenarios is impossible, and we don’t want to discuss that publicly.
“I think the main one is if we feel that someone has done a much better job on a weekend, whichever way it is, we want that person to be rewarded. And that’s where it of course becomes a little bit tricky still, and we need to continue discussing that.
“It’s not simply a blanket I’m going to be behind Lando in every single race, in every decision that’s ever taken from here on out, because I still have things that I want to achieve in the championship, and I’m trying to boost my standing in the drivers’ championship.”
