Photo: RacePictures.

McLaren legends issue Piastri-Norris 'bollocks to the team' warning

15:01, 01 Oct

Updated: 15:26, 01 Oct

byNorberto Mujica

Whilst Mika Hakkinen believes selfishness is in order when fighting for a world championship, David Coulthard has warned McLaren that at one point either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri will put themselves ahead of the team.

Therefore there will be a point where, to be crude about it, they’ll go and say ‘bollocks to the team, I want this victory for myself.

- David Coulthard

McLaren boast a cohesive and harmonious environment that has seen them dominate this F1 season at will, at least until the past two race weekends.

The significance team dynamics have within the Woking-based outfit itself is made evident in how precise and fair the team led by Andrea Stella have always tried to be when managing their drivers' relationship.

This is also made evident in how strict they are when it comes to staying within the confines of the principles McLaren holds at its core, with one of them being: McLaren comes first, drivers second.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Monza. Photo: RacePictures

Speaking with Code Sports, Coulthard, a former McLaren driver himself, shared a very blunt perspective on drivers' psyche and how it could undoubtedly lead either Piastri or Norris to betray the team's philosophy for personal gain.

“Racing drivers are selfish bastards," Coulthard said. "They’ve got to Formula One because they have their elbows out and they’ve fought their way into that sport.

“They’re Formula One drivers and they both want to win, and therefore there will be a point where, to be crude about it, they’ll go and say ‘bollocks to the team, I want this victory for myself. So you can’t stage manage who’s going to score the goal, whoever’s got the ball is going to take a crack."

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Monza. Photo: RacePictures

Coulthard's former McLaren teammate, double world champion Hakkinen, then spoke along the same lines of the Scot.

“You need to be selfish, you need to think about yourself, what is best for you.”

“Sometimes in the working environment it doesn’t look so nice because he’s, of course, a young driver and you don’t have so much experience yet in Formula One.

“But he (Piastri) will only get better. He’s a very consistent driver, which is a powerful tool, and he’s a bloody quick driver," Hakkinen concluded.

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