Steiner poses million dollar question to Norris, (and slips him the answer)

12:55, 31 Jul

Updated: 14:16, 31 Jul

byNorberto Mujica

Lando Norris is currently trailing teammate Oscar Piastri in all regards this season. For the Briton to overturn the tables and win the title, it will take some doing. But Guenther Steiner believes Norris could in fact manage it, if he foregoes McLaren.

Following their latest tussle, from which Piastri emerged as the winner (yet again), the gap in the drivers' standings between the Australian and Norris grew, but not by an unsurmountable amount.

Speaking with Sport.de, Steiner judged the 16-point margine between the two is of less than one race win between the two McLaren drivers. "You only need a retirement from Oscar Piastri and Lando wins, then he's back in front," Steiner assessed.

Oscar Piastri overtakes Lando Norris for the win at Belgium

Steiner presents McLaren F1 with major headache

With the points gap between Piastri and Norris ebbing and flowing, the former F1 boss believes that McLaren will let both drivers race, under the umbrella of the, so far, successful papaya rules.

But if it comes down to winning the F1 Drivers' Championship, then all bets will be off for both title contenders.

"At some point, if it really goes to the world championship fight, then both drivers will forget the papaya rules."

'I'd rather lose a friend than a F1 world title'

The atmosphere at McLaren is described as great by all members in the team, Steiner observes. However, both want to be world champion. Would you rather lose a friend or world title? Is the question, which Steiner himself answers.

"I always believe: I'm more likely to lose a friend than a World Title. The opportunity to win a Formula 1 world championship is something a driver has very few in his life."

And it's the goal that they have been working towards their entire lives. In that sense, Steiner advices Norris. "If I were Lando and I'm only a few points away, I'd forget the papaya rules for a moment."

However, this is something the former F1 Haas team boss does not think he needs to explain to the Briton, since "he is a racing driver himself. Their selfishness is great," Steiner concluded.